The Democratic Republic of the Congo's health minister visited Ebola outbreak responders Dec. 25 amid a spike of 22 new Ebola cases, according to a report issued by the Minneapolis-based University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.
The total number of Ebola cases is now up to 585, including 537 confirmed infections and 48 probable cases. Health officials report the fatality count is up to 356 deaths.
Minister of Health Oly Ilunga, MD, recently toured an under construction Ebola treatment unit in the Katwa Health District.
"For this commitment and sacrifice, the Minister of Health said that [the workers] deserve the respect and recognition of an entire nation," the ministry said in a written statement cited by CIDRP.
The 22 new cases were reported from eight different locations within the DRC: Katwa had seven, Mabalako had three, Beni had three, Butembo had three, Kalunguta had two, Oicha had two, Musienene one and Komanda had one.
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