The health minister of Congo says the Ebola virus has killed 11 people in Western Kasai province. August Mopipi says the deaths occurred in Kaluemba where 35 people have been infected in an epidemic that began in late November. The minister says laboratory tests in Gabon and in Congo's National Institute for Biomedical Research confirmed Ebola in the 11 deaths. He said late Monday suspected cases have been identified in neighboring villages, Associated Press reported. The World Health Organization has confirmed only two Ebola cases and says other diseases are likely involved. Ebola kills up to 90 percent of the people it infects and is spread through direct contact with the blood or secretions of an infected person or contaminated objects.
