DR Congo: Ebola Outbreak - May 2018
OngoingOverview
The Government of the [DRC] declared a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Bikoro in Equateur Province today...The outbreak declaration occurred after laboratory results confirmed two cases of EVD. (WHO, 8 May 2018)
From 4 April through 9 May 2018, a total of 32 [EVD] cases (among which two are confirmed, 18 probable and 12 suspected cases) were reported from Bikoro health zone, Equateur province, including 18 deaths. Three of the 32 cases were among healthcare workers...All cases were reported from the catchment area of the Ikoko-Impenge health facility, located 30 km from the central health zone office of Bikoro, which is 280 km by road from Mbandaka, the capital of Equateur province. Of the 21 initially reported cases on 8 May 2018, 17 had epidemiological links (potential contacts with another suspect case). (WHO, 10 May 2018)
As of 11 May 2018, there are a total of 34 cases, with 18 deaths (case fatality rate 52.9%), among which two cases are confirmed, 14 suspected and 18 probable. Three health workers have been affected, with two suspected cases and a probable case who died. (WHO, 11 May 2018)
The affected community, Ikoko Impenge, is situated in the Bikoro Health Zone of the Equateur province of the DRC. The epicentre is a very remote village; Ikoko Impenge health area is not covered by mobile telephone networks but is accessible by road (though access is difficult especially with the ongoing rainy season). There are currently suspected 10 cases in treatment in two different facilities. Ikoko Impenge health area covers 15km and includes 5 villages, all of which have reported suspected cases. This area of DRC has not suffered previous documented Ebola outbreaks before the current outbreak. (IFRC, 14 May 2018)
One new case of [EVD] has been confirmed in Wangata, one of the three health zones of Mbandaka, a city of nearly 1.2 million people in Equateur Province. (WHO, 17 May 2018)
The 1st meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the WHO Director-General under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) regarding [EVD] outbreak in [DRC] took place on...18 May 2018...It was the view of the Committee that the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have not currently been met. (WHO, 18 May 2018)
On 15 June 2018, five new suspected EVD cases were reported in Bikoro Health Zone. Six laboratory specimens (from suspected cases reported previously) tested negative. No new confirmed EVD cases and no new deaths were reported on the reporting date. Since 17 May 2018, no new confirmed EVD cases have been reported in Bikoro and Wangata health zones, while the last confirmed case-patient in Iboko Health Zone developed illness on 2 June 2018 and was confirmed 6 June 2018. To date, a total 24 case-patients with confirmed EVD have been cured since the onset of the outbreak. Since the beginning of the outbreak (on 4 April 2018), a total of 57 EVD cases and 28 deaths (case fatality rate 49.1%) have been reported, as of 15 June 2018. Of the 57 cases, 38 have been laboratory confirmed, 14 are probable (deaths for which it was not possible to collect laboratory specimens for testing) and five are suspected. Of the confirmed and probable cases, 27 (52%) are from Iboko, followed by 21 (40%) from Bikoro and four (8%) from Wangata health zones. A total of five healthcare workers have been affected, with four confirmed cases and two deaths. (WHO, 15 Jun 2018)
Appeals & Response Plans
WHO: WHO Regional Strategic Plan for EVD Operational Readiness and Preparedness in Countries Neighboring the Democratic Republic of the Congo (June 2018 - February 2019)
Govt. DR Congo: Strategic Response Plan for the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak: Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018
Useful Links
Most read (last 30 days)
- DR Congo: Red Cross ramps up support as Ebola response enters critical phase
- Children and the DRC Ebola outbreak: 4 things you need to know
- ALIMA opens an Ebola treatment center in DRC equipped with biosecure emergency care units (CUB)
- Children must be at heart of response to Ebola outbreak
- DRC: MSF Ebola vaccination targets remote communities
Highlights
• As of the 18th of June, the UNICEF Principal Adviser on Health Epidemic assumed the role of the UN coordinator for the Ebola response in Mbandaka for 3 weeks.
• As of the 20th of June, a total 38 confirmed and 14 probable cases were reported in the three affected health zones of Wangata (Mbandaka), Bikoro and Itipo of the Equateur province.
Depuis le 8 mai 2018, la République Démocratique du Congo fait face à une 9ème épidémie de la Maladie à Virus Ebola (MVE). Contrairement aux précédentes épidémies, l’actuelle épidémie a la particularité d’être multifocale, principalement dans les foyers de Bikoro, d’Iboko et de Mbandaka.
By Tony Byamungu
As I write this, I am inside the Iboko Health Zone, south of the Équateur Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Almost two months ago, the Health Minister declared an Ebola epidemic in the country. Iboko is one of the three health zones affected.
Marie-Roseline Darnycka Bélizaire is on the front-lines of the battle against Ebola.
She’s leading the hunt for the virus in the Itipo area in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The communities at risk are spread out over a wide area and the roads are bad. Her team of more than 20 field epidemiologists is using mostly motorcycles to get around.
Marie-Roseline Belizaire said “We have to go sometimes as far as 80 km from the coordination base, so in a day we can do 160 km.”
WASHINGTON, JUNE 21, 2018 --- The World Bank Group’s Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility (PEF) welcomes Australia as a donor to the PEF, joining Japan and Germany. Australia is contributing US$7.2 million to the PEF’s Cash Window, which was set up through an initial contribution from Germany. Australia will also now be a voting member of the PEF Steering Body.
IOM'S RESPONSE FOCUS
Population Mobility Mapping (PMM) at border-crossings and in the affected province
POINTS OF ENTRY (POE) surveillance (health screening)
Infection Prevention and Control measures (hygiene promotion) at POE
Risk communication at POE
Cross-border coordination between DRC, Central African Republic (CAR), and Republic of the Congo (ROC)
The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the world’s most complex and challenging yet forgotten crises. As of 31 May, over 772,000 Congolese refugees are being hosted in countries in Africa.
From 1 January to 31 May alone, some 104,351 Congolese fled to neighboring countries, with a particularly significant increase in refugee flows to Uganda, Burundi and Zambia.
In response to the Ebola crisis that has impacted the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Government of Japan is allocating 700,000 USD to UNICEF. The funds will be used to support activities in the area of community communication and psycho-social assistance to affected families.
The Ministry of Health and WHO continue to closely monitor the outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There is cautious optimism. Slightly over a month into the response, further spread of EVD has largely been contained. However, in spite of progress, there should be no room for laxity and complacency until the outbreak is controlled. The focus of operations remains on intensive surveillance and active case finding.
CONAKRY, GUINEA — Just after a morning rain, Gourma Mamadou was shopping in this capital city's crowded, open-air Kaloum market. The young man said he was well aware of the current Ebola outbreak simmering some 4,000 kilometers to the southeast in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the World Health Organization reports it has killed 28 people since April.
The outbreak may be relatively far away, but fear of Ebola is not.
1. Situation Update
Les 150 prestataires concernés viennent de 3 zones de santé, à savoir : Bolenge, Mbandaka et Wangata afin d’améliorer la prévention et le contrôle des infections dans les formations sanitaires en situation de l’épidémie de la maladie à virus Ebola.
Global Humanitarian Overview 2018: six months on
As of 15 June 2018, 21 Humanitarian Response Plans (HRP) and the Syria Regional Refugee & Resilience Plan (3RP) require US$25.39 billion to assist 96.2 million highly vulnerable people.
Dakar/Paris, June 8 2018. The medical humanitarian organization ALIMA (The Alliance for International Medical Action) will open an Ebola treatment center equipped, for the first time, with biosecure emergency care units, in Itipo in the Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
5 New events
52 Ongoing events
46 Outbreaks
9 Humanitarian crises
- This Weekly Bulletin focuses on selected acute public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African Region. The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 55 events in the region. This week’s edition covers key new and ongoing events, including:
Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Measles in Liberia
Hepatitis E in Namibia
Humanitarian crisis in north-east Nigeria
Humanitarian crisis in Cameroon.
Dakar/Paris, 18 juin 2018. L’organisation médicale humanitaire ALIMA (The Alliance for International Medical Action) ouvre un centre de traitement Ebola équipé pour la première fois de chambres d’urgence biosécurisées, à Itipo, dans la province de l’Equateur, en République Démocratique du Congo.
POINTS SAILLANTS
• Plus de 80 000 burundais affectés par les pluies diluviennes depuis janvier ;
• Malgré une bonne saison agricole 2018A, près de 1,7 million de burundais restent en insécurité alimentaire (IPC3, en crise) ;
• Entre janvier 2016 et mai 2018, la Hotline a reçu 7 370 appels.
CHIFFRES CLES
Pop. dans le besoin 3,6 millions
Population ciblée 2,4 millions
PDI 169 374
Réfugiés congolais 72 212
Réfugiés burundais 413 283
Pers. en insécurité alimentaire 1,7 million
Mbandaka, le 12 juin 2018 (caritasdev.cd) : une forte délégation du Réseau Caritas locale a effectué une mission depuis vendredi 1er juin 2018 à Bikoro et Itipo pour évaluer et lancer les travaux d’appui à la riposte contre la Maladie à Virus Ebola (MVE), dans la Province de l’Equateur.
In Numbers
7.7 m people in food insecurity and livelihood crisis (15th IPC)
4.6 m people in need of nutrition assistance
US$195.2 m seven months (June - December 2018) net funding requirements, representing 63% of total
1,077,425 m people assisted in May 2018
Country Background & Strategy
MBANDAKA, CONGO —
For 25 years, Patrick Matondo has earned a living buying and selling monkeys, bats and other animals popularly known as bush meat along the Congo River. Standing on the riverbank in Mbandaka, a city affected by the deadly new outbreak of the Ebola virus, the father of five said that for the first time he's worried he won't be able to support his family.
"Since Ebola was declared, business has decreased by almost half. It's really, really bad," the 47-year-old said, hanging his head.
