U.N. finds typhoid in Congo amid Ebola outbreak

GENEVA, Sept 20 (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday said it had confirmed typhoid in the area of Democratic Republic of Congo where health experts are working to fight an outbreak of deadly Ebola haemorrhagic fever. "We now have five confirmed cases of typhoid among the suspect cases in Kampungu," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said.

"One of the typhoid cases also tested positive for Ebola. This is proof that a lot of different disease events are going on, making it more complicated," he added. The number of confirmed Ebola cases in Kasai Occidental province had also risen to nine, according to Hartl.

Congo's government, citing test results from international laboratories, last week confirmed at least five cases of Ebola in the southern area, where more than 160 people have died and 352 fallen ill over four months.

The WHO has said it was not clear whether all the deaths were caused by Ebola and cited the presence of other diseases such as Shigella dysentery, which is borne by contaminated food or water. Typhoid fever, a bacterial disease spread through contaminated food or drink, can be treated with antibiotics.

Two mobile laboratories, lent by the United States and Canada, have been set up in affected villages to help identify cases, Hartl said.