Congolese authorities have released a riverboat that was detained last week after fears that some of its passengers could be carrying the Ebola virus.

DR Congo's Health Minister told newsmen on Sunday that the vessel had initially been mistakenly reported as coming from Kisangani, an area where Ebola cases have been recorded. Authorities later established that the boat had actually departed from Mongala, which has no reported Ebola cases.

The vessel was detained after a passenger became ill and was forced to disembark because the symptoms were considered similar to those associated with Ebola. The passenger later died, but no samples were collected, making it impossible to confirm whether Ebola was responsible.

Two children and another adult also died while aboard the boat, but tests showed they were not infected with Ebola. Other passengers who developed symptoms were also tested, with no Ebola cases detected.

Despite releasing the vessel, authorities in Kinshasa said they would continue monitoring boats travelling downriver within 65 kilometres of the capital. The incident comes as the Democratic Republic of Congo intensifies its response to an Ebola outbreak, with authorities increasing surveillance and testing to prevent further spread of the virus.

— AFRICANEWS.COM