Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have released a boat that was detained last week over concerns that some passengers could be infected with the Ebola virus.
The country’s Health Minister, speaking to RFI on Sunday, clarified that the vessel did not originate from Kisangani, an area where Ebola cases had been reported, as was initially believed.
According to the minister, the boat actually departed from Mongala province, which has not recorded Ebola cases.
The vessel came under scrutiny after a passenger developed symptoms similar to those associated with Ebola and was forced to disembark because of illness. The passenger later died, but no sample was collected, making it impossible to determine whether Ebola was responsible.
Two children and another adult also died while on board. However, tests conducted on the three deceased passengers returned negative results for Ebola.
Other passengers who developed symptoms were also tested, but none was found to have contracted the virus.
Despite releasing the boat, health authorities in Kinshasa said they would continue monitoring vessels travelling downriver within a 65-kilometre radius of the capital as a precautionary measure.
The Health Minister said two barges were already inspected on Saturday as part of the ongoing surveillance efforts.
Authorities are maintaining heightened monitoring as they work to prevent any potential spread of Ebola while awaiting further health assessments of river passengers and vessels.
