BUNIA, Congo (AP) — A 16-month-old baby and his mother have recovered from Ebola in eastern Congo, a rare positive development as Africa’s top health body warned the outbreak of the deadly virus could become the worst on record if it continues to spread.The two left the Rwampara Treatment Center on Tuesday, near Bunia, in Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak, along with five other people who also recovered from Ebola.“The joy is immense given the state he was in at first,” Kahindo Mireille Pierrette of her infant. “If you had seen him before, you wouldn’t believe he could have this strength now,” she added.Pierrette said she brought her child to the treatment center at the end of May, after he started bleeding from the mouth and nose and could barely move.Modet Camara, a doctor at the center, said the baby was treated with antibiotics after a PCR test came back positive for Ebola on his second day at the hospital.
Congo’s Ministry of Health said Tuesday that 837 cases of the virus have been confirmed so far, including 196 confirmed deaths. However, the number of cases is believed to be higher because the outbreak was confirmed on May 15, weeks after it is suspected to have begun.
