As doctors landed by helicopter with supplies of protective equipment and body bags, panic-stricken residents were already hunting for ways to escape as they realised that the deadly ebola virus was in their midst. Mbandaka, a provincial capital of more than one million people and a key port along Africa’s second longest river, has been confirmed as the first city in the Democratic Republic of Congo to suffer an outbreak of the virus since it returned to the country this month. “I’m looking for a boat to leave,” Constantine Boketshu said. “If the authorities have allowed the disease to arrive here, we all risk being killed . because hygiene is bad.” A fisherman, who sells his catch at the market, said…

Source: The Times May 18, 2018 16:07 UTC