KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Medical officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo have reported at least nine deaths from what is suspected to be Ebola fever.
The deaths were in Mweke, an area where several people were killed by Ebola in 2007, the U.N. Integrated Regional Information Networks reported.
"There are signs that could be associated with hemorrhagic fever but we have to wait for laboratory results to confirm this because there is also a gastro-enteritis outbreak in the area," Edmond Mulamba, the health inspector in Kasai Occidental, said.
Ebola and its close relative, Marburg fever, are communicable diseases caused by viruses. There is now effective treatment and death rates among the infected can be as high as 90 percent.
The suspected cases in this outbreak began with a premature baby. Relatives who attended the funeral, including the baby's 18-year-old mother, also became sick and died.
