Health officials have celebrated a major breakthrough as five Ebola patients recover and return home.
Five patients infected with Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been discharged from hospital after making full recoveries. The group includes four nurses who were treated in Bunia, the epicentre of the current outbreak in Ituri Province.
World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the survivors during a discharge ceremony, describing them as proof that the outbreak can be contained. Health authorities said the recoveries highlight the importance of early detection, medical care, contact tracing and community cooperation.
The latest Ebola outbreak has recorded more than 1,000 suspected cases and at least 246 deaths in DR Congo. The outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which no approved vaccine currently exists.
Health officials are urging communities to seek treatment early and work closely with medical teams to help stop the spread of the disease.