Congo votes after ebola outbreak forced delay

Voters denied the chance to vote in Congo’s presidential election because of the ebola epidemic have started casting ballots.

Residents in eastern Congo’s cities of Beni and Butembo were not included in the January presidential vote. Government officials said the decision was made because of ebola, although the current outbreak remains a threat, with the number of cases still increasing this past week.

Voters had to wash their hands before entering polling stations, in an effort to prevent transmission of the highly deadly virus through contact with the bodily fluids of sick people.

Polling stations also were open in Butembo, now the epicenter of the ebola epidemic that is now the second deadliest in history with more than 1,000 deaths.