Libreville - The death toll in Gabon from an outbreak of the Ebola virus that began early last month has risen by five to 23, according to the latest official tally released on Wednesday.
Seven others were killed across the border in north-west Congo-Brazzaville, according to a toll published earlier this month by the World Health Organisation.
In Gabon, one victim died at the medical center in the northern town of Mekambo, 500km east of the capital Libreville, according to the statement from an on-site international medical team.
Four others died in smaller villages nearby.
The toll was the first published since January 7.
On January 8, villagers chased the international medical team out of Mekambo in protest at sanitary measures that ran contrary to their local customs.
The team resumed work in recent days, after experts were sent to the scene to teach villagers about the importance of the reinforced sanitary measures. - Sapa-AFP