Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are celebrating the discharge of five patients who have recovered from Ebola. The current outbreak has killed nearly 250 people, but officials stress that early detection and treatment can save lives.

On Sunday, four nurses were discharged from a hospital in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak. WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told them: "You are living stories that this outbreak can be stopped."

Nurse Etienne Ezo reflected on his experience: "We were really demoralised because we knew that at some point... we were going to die... If you have never been isolated, you will not know that it's not easy." The first survivor, a laboratory worker, left hospital last week.

Tedros called on communities to work with medical staff after some residents attacked health centers over strict burial rules. He said communities are "at the heart of the solution" and success depends on their trust.

There are now over 1,000 suspected Ebola cases in DR Congo and at least 246 deaths. Neighboring Uganda has reported nine confirmed cases and one death. In Bunia, schools and markets are open as life continues.

The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which has no approved vaccines. Brazil is investigating two suspected cases. In Kenya, protests erupted over US plans to build an Ebola quarantine facility at an air base, with a court suspending the plans.

Source: www.bbc.com