MAF ASSISTING IN FIGHT AGAINST LATEST EBOLA OUTBREAK

Nineteen people have died and 39 more are infected from the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to the World Health Organization (WHO). News outlets report that 393 people identified as contacts of Ebola patients are being followed up with, yet information about the outbreak in Bikoro, Iboko, and Wangata health zones in Equateur province is still limited.*

In response to the outbreak, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) has completed flights for a major medical organization to the affected area from the capital city of Kinshasa. No other organizations have requested flights yet, and at this point it’s not known to what extent MAF will be involved. An MAF Caravan and PC12 aircraft have both been used to fly to the airport at Mbandaka, which is 315 nautical miles (NM) northeast of Kinshasa.

The MAF Disaster Response Team is monitoring events closely to determine if they need to move additional staff or aircraft into place for a larger response.

Please pray for the Congolese people who have lost loved ones, and for others who might be affected by this most recent outbreak of this deadly disease.

MAF is a global agency that has been operating in the DRC since 1961. Serving with seven aircraft from bases in Nyankunde, Bunia, Lubumbashi, and Kinshasa, MAF supports the work of medical teams, mission groups, development agencies and others seeking to share the gospel and improve conditions in isolated parts of the DRC. Worldwide, MAF serves in 37 countries with more than 125 airplanes.

*Source: Reuters