Ebola outbreak: DR Congo confirms first cases

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Re: Ebola outbreak: DR Congo confirms first cases

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UN mission in DRC creates Ebola taskforce in response to outbreak: spokesman

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</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td class="sj" align="left" width="43%">English.news.cn 2014-08-26 07:16:08</td> <td align="right">
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has created a taskforce in response to a fresh Ebola outbreak in the African country, a UN spokesman told reporters here on Monday.
"The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported today that the government of the DRC has confirmed that Ebola has resurfaced in the country," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at the daily briefing.
Dujarric quoted Congolese Health Minister Felix Kabange Numbi as saying that the outbreak killed 13 people since July in a remote village in Boende of Equateur Province, more than 1,200 km from the capital Kinshasa, but the strain of this outbreak was different from the one that's been ravaging West Africa.
"The Congolese authorities, the World Health Organization (WHO) and NGOs are mobilizing against the disease," said Dujarric.
"The United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) has created an Ebola taskforce, and is tracking and screening its staff traveling to and from the affected countries in West Africa, " he added.
Ebola was first discovered in the DRC in 1976 and this is the seventh time the disease has broken out, said the UN spokesperson. The latest bout was in 2012 when some 36 people died in Province Orientale.
According to the latest WHO update, so far there have been 2, 615 cases and 1,427 deaths reported in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Dr. David Nabarro, the United Nations System Coordinator for Ebola, is now in Guinea, after visiting Liberia and Sierra Leone. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/af..._133583552.htm

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Re: Ebola outbreak: DR Congo confirms first cases

Ebola epidemic declared in Congo




CNN|Added on August 26, 2014
Officials say the Ebola virus has appeared in another African country. CNN's Isha Sesay reports.http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/vi...break.cnn.html

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Re: Ebola outbreak: DR Congo confirms first cases

Translation Google

DRC | Ebola | Health & Medicine
Posted on 27-08-2014 ? Amended 27-08-2014 at 17:18

Ebola Zaire strain confirmed in DRC

by RFI

Six of the eight samples taken from patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo were positive to Ebola. Since August 11, 13 people died in a remote province of Ecuador about 800 miles northeast of Kinshasa sector. Detailed examinations have confirmed that the strain of the disease in the DRC is the so-called "Zaire". Eric Leroy, Director of the International Centre for Medical Research, the laboratory in Franceville in Gabon who made the diagnosis, interviewed by RFI.

RFI: Your laboratory analyzed the samples taken from patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The results are determined, what are they?

Eric Leroy: Our laboratory was required as a WHO Collaborating Centre for diagnosing viral haemorrhagic fever and Ebola virus and therefore actually we confirmed the results obtained by Kinshasa and thus we confirmed the positive results in Ebola Zaire virus. For now we are at the stage of diagnosis, which is just to identify whether or not the Ebola within biological samples and to identify the virus species.

You know that the Ebola virus is divided into five species: Sudan, Zaire, Cote d'Ivoire, Bundibugyo and Reston and our systems precisely allow us to differentiate the species. After the characterization of the strain itself, it is necessary to wait for the result of sequencing that is to say, the characterization of the entire genome sequence of the virus. There the test has shown us that it was Zaire and now to have a finer strain characterization, it is necessary to wait for the sequencing that we will get, hopefully, by the weekend.

How many specimens exactly have you received and where do they come from?

We received eight biological samples that come from IRMB (National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa) who conducted the initial analyzes. The eight biological samples from eight patients obviously of the affected area and on the eight biological samples, we confirmed the presence of Ebola virus in six of them. The other two, it can be entirely another disease because you have to know that Ebola expresses symptoms that are quite common contrary to what people think and can be confused with many other diseases as a uncomplicated malaria, gastroenteritis and typhoid then. Finally, there are many other diseases resembling the infection with Ebola virus.

Can we say that this strain is different from the strain that currently grips West Africa?

As long as one does not have the result of sequencing, we can not be 100% positive, but given the context of the emergence of these cases, it is still very high probability that it is a different strain. It is an outbreak that appeared in a small village so the movement of people between the small village of the DRC and Guinea is very, very unlikely. If the cases occurred in a big city, then we could actually raise the possibility of transmission of the strain. And there it is in a village, so it evokes a new appearance, a new emergence of the virus from an animal strain and therefore a strain different from Guinea.

Exactly how is it that the virus appears like that from time to time?

The virus can not live alone. He lives like a parasite, inevitably within a living organism, it is called the reservoir. And numerous viruses, if not most, live inside a living organism that is an animal, so it is called the "animal reservoir" so the natural host of the virus . And there it lives permanently, it does not appear, it does not disappear, it is always present. "The animal reservoir" is the carrier at a certain percentage. These animals naturally harbor the virus without getting sick.

And then with regard to the Ebola virus, they are species of bat. So the virus is still there in populations of bats. By cons, it is not always there in the human species. The so-called outbreak of an epidemic or outbreak of a disease is when there is a transfer so a transmission from animals that hosts permanently the virus to the species human. And conditions of this transmission are known, it is primarily in the butchering or handling of these animals, that the transfer or transmission may occur.

http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20140827-e...07646384189454

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Ebola outbreak: DR Congo confirms first cases

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august 27 2014

6 confirmed cases of Ebola

The Minister of Health announced Thursday that the updated figures show 42 cases of hemorrhagic fever with 6 confirmed cases of Ebola, 13 probable and 23 suspect cases.

Felix Kabange Numbi says the number of deaths is still 13 dead, including five health workers.

Eleven people are put in isolation. Six new samples were taken outside the eight already analyzed.

Radio Okapi

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Ebola outbreak: DR Congo confirms first cases

computertranslation

DRC: 7 new cases of Ebola in Djera

August 29, 2014

The Health Minister Felix Kabange, announced Thursday, Aug. 28 that seven new cases of Ebola have been confirmed by laboratory tests.

Bringing to thirteen the number of people affected by the virus in the area Djera people in northern Ecuador, where the epidemic was declared.

The Minister ensures that for now the epidemic is contained in this sector alone.

"Instead of six, we now have thirteen cases involved. The number of probable cases is still thirteen and the number of suspects is sixteen, "explains the Minister of Health.

The new cases were confirmed after analysis of samples taken from the seven suspects.

Radio Okapi

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Ebola outbreak: DR Congo confirms first cases

Congolese experts, medicines to fight back against Ebola Djera

Response against the epidemic of Ebola virus disease in Djera in Boende territory located in the district of Tshuapa Ecuador did not have to wait. The government has reacted swiftly to stem the disease that has killed 13 people including five health workers.
Under the impetus of government, a first Congolese experts team of epidemiologists, psychotherapists, clinical psychologists, specialists in sanitation goes to Lokolia with a large consignment of drugs to organize the response there. It was at Ndolo Airport to the Minister of Health, Dr. Felix Kabange Numbi that the team led by the Director of Directorate for the disease at the Department of Public Health, Dr. Benoit Kebela is mounted on the edge aircraft with medication. It was around 15h that plane took off. Shortly before takeoff, the Minister of Health gave exact instructions to the head of the delegation, Dr. Benoit Kebela returning from the Guinn&#233;e where he also led a team of Congolese experts to help the country organize the fight against the disease Ebola in Djera.
With this experience, Dr. Benoit Kebela is now the "front" in his own country against the Ebola virus Djera. According to him, with the means provided by the government it is possible to contain this epidemic and stop the virus from spreading. "We had the same response in 2012 to Isiro in eastern province where she had declared an outbreak of the disease Ebola virus. we led the team that was in Isiro. The big challenge is to stop the transmission of Ebola virus. Everyone looks at us, we went elsewhere to provide expertise.
as everyone looks at us we have to prove we have the expertise and the only challenge would be the one to stop the transmission. must we avoid the spread of this epidemic. I think we can do it because we have experienced the outbreak in Kikwit I can call an epidemic in open, well Isiro. And we have managed because there was no extension and today we are going to Boende which is a closed environment. This is an area that has less contact with other media. I think with this favor if you work with all the means that we must stop this epidemic and we can do it ... ".
The Minister of Public Health that promises to join this team of experts in 72 hours with another batch of drugs and protective equipment emphasizes that it is Lokolia it is installed headquarters to coordinate the fight against Ebola in Djera. Today's day, it is still expected to send other drugs and equipment by the government acted disponibilis&#233;s and other partners such as the Oms and UNICEF.
Logistics, recognizes Dr. Felix Kabange will be the biggest challenge we have to build a camp, "because there are only two houses in Sector Djera to Lokolia where all teams must be installed with any protective equipment, disinfection and sanitation. There are also bikes, bikes bought by the government and the support of other partners. We will send all the materials ... " says Dr. Felix Kabange Numbi.
Current statistics
According to the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Felix Kabange Numbi, since the beginning of the epidemic 42 cases were reported, of which six laboratory confirmed, 13 probable and 23 suspect cases. The number of deaths has not changed. He is 13, including 5 health professionals. There are also reports that 11 people are currently isolated. Dr. Felix Kabange Numbi as accurate as 6 new samples were taken in addition to eight already considered and 168 contacts are identified and tracked.
On land, the government is all means to curb the epidemic, according to this contingency plan initiated by the Head of State, Joseph Kabila.
Blandine Lusimana T

http://www.minisanterdc.cd/new/index.php/direction/129-des-experts-congolais-des-medicaments-a-djera-pour-riposter-contre-ebola

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Ebola outbreak: DR Congo confirms first cases

Information about the disease Ebola Point in Ecuador (DRC) No. 3 to 28 August 2014
Print out E-mail Category: Situation Reports Date of publication Views: 45
Updated data

Between July 28 and August 27, 2014, a cumulative total of 42 suspected cases have been recorded in the area of health Boende Lokolia locality, province of Ecuador (+/- 1200 Km of Kinshasa).
13 people died of the disease (CFR 31%), 5 of the health workforce. 11 people held in isolation.
6 confirmed positive Ebola on 8 analyzed samples (performed INRB in Kinshasa and CIRMF City of France in Gabon).
Contamination: 147 contacts between people at risk identified for monitoring.
Other samples taken Boende August 27 waiting to be sent to Kinshasa.
Index cases identified Ikanamongo (100 km Boende): a woman who died on August 11 after handling and consumption of bushmeat hunted by her husband and that contaminated her doctor and her husband.
Rumors of suspected cases in other provinces are not confirmed.
Coordination

Establishment and held regular meetings of the National Coordinating Committee (NCC).
Existence of seven thematic committees at national and local levels to ensure coordination of humanitarian action; Six of these committees meet daily: Epidemiological Surveillance, Communication, Laboratory and Research Support for the sick, Water, hygiene and sanitation and logistics.
Implementation of UN Task Force and held the first meeting August 26, 2014.
Recommendation: A participation of entities and clusters in technical committees, depending on their expertise, including Logistics, Food Security and Wash.

http://www.rdc-humanitaire.net/index.php/rapports/rapports-de-situation/4918-point-d-information-sur-la-maladie-a-virus-ebola-dans-l-equateur-rdc-no-3-au-28-aout-2014

UPDATE ON THE EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE IN DRC
No. 3
28 August 2014
1. Update
 Between 28 July and 27 August 2014, a total of 42 cases have been identified in the Area, including
13 deaths (mortality rate: 31%).
 13 people died from the disease (31% mortality rate), including 5 health professionals. 11 people
have been put in isolation.
 147 contacts identified for follow-up.
 6 positive samples out of 8 after a second analysis carried out at the INRB in Kinshasa and at the
CIRMF of France Ville in Gabon.
 Other samples taken in Boende on 27 August being sent to Kinshasa.
 Index case identified in Ikanamongo (100 km from Boende): a woman died on 11 August after
handling and eating bush meat hunted by her husband that contaminated both her husband and her
doctor.
 Rumours on suspected cases in other provinces have not been confirmed.
2. Coordination
 Establishment and holding of regular meetings of the National Committee on Coordination (CNC).
 Existence of seven thematic commissions at national and local levels to ensure the coordination of
humanitarian action; Six of these commissions meet on a daily basis: Epidemiologic Surveillance;
Communication; Laboratory and Research; Support for the Sick; Water, Hygiene and Sanitation;
and Logistics.
 Establishment of a UN Ebola Task Force and holding of its first meeting on 26 August 2014.
 Recommendation: participation of UN entities and clusters to technical commissions, in line with
their expertise, notably with regard to Logistics, Food Security and WASH.
3. Security and logistics
 Availability of UNHAS and ASF-F aircraft:
UNHAS: One 37-seats, cargo 2,7 MT aircraft aircraft; one helicopter available in Goma and
possibility to have an additional helicopter from South Africa, in case of need.
ASF-F: one/two 9-seats 1,2 MT cargo aircraft.
 Drafting of protocols for the regulation of travel in the quarantined area, on the basis of protocols
currently used in West Africa by UNHAS. These protocols will be shared with other aviation
companies for their consideration.
 Announcement by the Government of the provision of a daily cargo to send material.
4. Response
4.1. Ongoing
 A second team of experts has travelled to the field on 27 August 2014, in view of the establishment
of the International Committee on Technical Coordination (CICTS) in Lokolia, epicentre of the
disease. This Committee will comprise experts from the Ministry of Health and WHO.
4.2. Planned
 Strengthening of field teams with technical staff and additional inputs.
5. Financing
 Process to request CERF ($2 million) and CHF ($1.5 million) funds under way.
6. Gaps
 Need to strengthen the technical field team with an anthropologist.

http://www.rdc-humanitaire.net/attachments/article/4918/EBOLA%20-%20Update%20of%2028%20august%202014%20-%20no3.pdf