Ruptly
"A Caritas-World Food Programme (WFP) health centre has been launched in Goma to shelter and monitor 87 people from high-risk areas placed under precautionary quarantine as the Ebola outbreak spreads across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and beyond. Footage captured on Wednesday shows medical staff preparing and portioning food before delivering it to patients in isolation rooms. "We consider these people coming from high-risk areas. They must not go directly back to their homes. They must first be put somewhere, housed somewhere to carry out the investigations. And during these 21 days, as the protocol states, they must be assisted," explained nutritionist Fabrice Kabongo. "We launched this activity last Saturday. In light of the evolving epidemic and the identified needs, the authorities deemed it necessary for the WFP and Caritas to provide care for these individuals. Currently, 87 beneficiaries are receiving food assistance," he added. Those unable to complete the three-week quarantine were provided with supplies and safety measures to help contain the virus, according to humanitarian emergency coordinator Eddy Yamwenziyo. "So normally, these people must spend 21 days in quarantine. But since some cannot complete the 21 days, we give the option to even assist them in their respective households in case of discharge… We continue to provide assistance at the household level using food kits provided by the WFP," he noted. An Ebola outbreak was declared by the DRC and Uganda on May 15, after laboratory tests confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease. WHO named it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17. World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that the number of confirmed Ebola cases in the DRC stood at 116."
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