Epidemiologic and clinical aspects of the Ebola virus epidemic in Mosango, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1995

Twenty-three Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) cases (15 males, 8 females) were identified in Mosango, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 18 (78%) of them died. Eight of the patients came from Kikwit General Hospital and were hospitalized at Mosango General Hospital, 10 acquired their infection at the Mosango hospital and were treated there, and 5 acquired their infection through contact with a hospitalized patient but were never hospitalized themselves. For most of the EHF cases, it was clear that they had been in contact with blood or body fluids of another EHF patient. The Ebola outbreak in Mosango remained relatively small, probably because hygienic conditions in this hospital were relatively good at the time of the outbreak and because as soon as the epidemic was recognized, barrier nursing techniques were used.