Rospotrebnadzor reported on control of the epidemiological situation in DR Congo

Rospotrebnadzor is monitoring the epidemiological situation in the Democratic Republic (DR) of Congo against the background of statements by a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross about possible virus leaks from laboratories. This was reported on January 29 in the press service of the agency.

As indicated, the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Goma is a laboratory where samples of pathogens of hemorrhagic fevers are stored, including the Ebola virus.

It is specified that to the leakage of pathogens can lead to power outages, which are observed in connection with the armed conflict.

It is known that the activities of the laboratory is financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the French Fund Merier. Rospotrebnadzor pointed to the irresponsible approach of Western states to dealing with dangerous infections in third countries.

"Rospotrebnadzor systematically provides assistance to African countries. As a result, today more than 150 specialists from DRC's neighbors Burundi, Uganda, Republic of Congo have already been trained in Russian methods of laboratory diagnosis of dangerous infections, use of personal protective equipment, ensuring biological safety when working in laboratories," the agency said in a statement on its website.

Mobile laboratories of Rospotrebnadzor were also delivered to the countries for early detection of infectious threats in the territories bordering the DR Congo.

The aggravation of the situation in DR Congo occurred after the government severed diplomatic relations with Rwanda and accused the country of supporting the rebels who launched a new offensive on the city of Goma. On January 26, the DRC Foreign Ministry announced the immediate withdrawal of its diplomats in the Rwandan capital of Kigali and ordered the country's embassy in Kinshasa to cease operations within 48 hours.

On January 27, March 23 Movement leader Cornel Nangaa claimed control of the city of Goma. Rebels cut food and essential supplies routes into the city from the south.

Reuters reported on January 28 that Congolese rebels from M23 had taken control of the airport in the city of Goma. It was noted that it was the route through which the UN, humanitarian groups and peacekeepers had been delivering supplies. According to Agence France-Presse, a total of more than 100 people were killed in the fighting in the city of Goma in DR Congo, about 1 thousand more were injured.

For his part, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya emphasized that Russia strongly condemns the actions of the Congolese rebel group M23 in the DRC and calls for a cessation of hostilities.