DRC - Ebola outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri: July 30, 2018+

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

DRC - Butembo: The military justice gets hold of the alleged murderers of the WHO doctor

Wednesday, April 24, 2019 - 21:18

The military court of North Kivu is reporting to have arrested 11 suspected militiamen who murdered Richard Mouzoko, a Cameroonian doctor and WHO expert, who was killed on Friday, 19 April, in an attack on a response team of Ebola virus disease in the Clinic of the Catholic University of Graben (UCG) in Butembo (North Kivu).

According to Colonel Kumbu Ngoma, deputy prosecutor (prosecutor) at the operational military court of North Kivu, the attack was sponsored by Katembo who was arrested on Wednesday. Six assailants were arrested during the pursuit and five others were arrested three days after the events.

Among them, three material authors. They were found to have shot the Cameroonian doctor at the UCG clinic and wounded the Congolese doctor. On the list of moral authors is the self-proclaimed general "Masumbuko" based in Kanyatsi-Ngeleza, a locality on the road to Luhutu in the territory of Lubero.

He is described as the man who provided militiamen to Katembo to carry out attacks in Butembo against Ebola response teams including UCG and Katwa Hospital. Colonel Kumbu Ngoma said the attack was "planned" on April 7 and 18 of this current year.

In their planning, they also wanted to kill the Bishop of the diocese of Butembo - Beni, Msgr. Melchis?dech Sikuli and the Reverend Pastor of Katwa, Mr Nzobi because "they are raising awareness about the Ebola Virus Disease", adds the army officer.
...
Yassin Kombi

Category
topicality

https://actualite.cd/2019/04/24/rdc-butembo-la-justice-militaire-met-la-main-sur-les-meurtriers-presumes-du-medecin-de

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR DISEASE CONTROL

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE PROVINCES OF NORTH KIVU AND ITURI Wednesday, April 24, 2019 The epidemiological situation of the Ebola Virus Disease dated 23 April 2019 : Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,367, of which 1,301 are confirmed and 66 are probable. In total, there were 885 deaths (819 confirmed and 66 probable) and 392 people healed. 266 suspected cases under investigation; 14 new confirmed cases, including 6 in Katwa, 3 in Musienene, 3 in Mandima, 1 in Butembo and 1 in Mabalako; 5 new deaths of confirmed cases, including 3 community deaths, including 1 in Musienene, 1 in Butembo and 1 in Mabalako; 2 deaths at CTE / CT Katwa; 5 new cures, 2 from the Mabalako CTE, 2 from the Butembo CTE and 1 from the Katwa CTE. / | \ Paralysis of response activities in health zones covered by Butembo's sub-coordination for security reasons. /! \ The data presented in this table are subject to change later, after extensive investigations and after redistribution of cases and deaths in their health areas . Remarks: In order to prevent the total number of cases from going up or down daily, the suspect cases have been placed in a separate category. For example, suspect cases with positive laboratory tests will be added to the confirmed category, while negative ones (non-cases) will be removed from the table. Deaths occurring at the level of the CTEs are provisionally recorded in the health zones of CTE implantation pending reclassification in the health zone of case notification. The probable case category includes all deaths for which it was not possible to obtain biological samples for laboratory confirmation but where the investigations revealed an epidemiological link with a confirmed or probable case. A community death is any death occurring outside of an Ebola Treatment Center. News of the response Peace Walk for Butembo Health Professionals The doctors and nurses of Butembo City organized a peaceful march on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 to denounce violence against health workers working in the Ebola response and attacks on the city's health infrastructure. Dressed in white coats, health professionals walked to Butembo City Hall where they handed a memorandum to Mayor Sylvain Mbusa Kanyamanda. Health workers have asked the mayor to improve their safety because if insecurity persists, they threaten to go on a dry strike.

...

https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?u=89e5755d2cca4840b1af93176&id=004e6ceaa4

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR DISEASE CONTROL

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE PROVINCES OF NORTH KIVU AND ITURI Thursday 25 April 2019 The epidemiological situation of the Ebola Virus Disease dated April 24, 2019 : Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,373, of which 1,307 are confirmed and 66 are probable. In total, there were 890 deaths (824 confirmed and 66 probable) and 394 people healed. 258 suspected cases under investigation; 6 new confirmed cases, including 3 in Katwa and 3 in Mandima; 5 new deaths of confirmed cases, including 2 community deaths, 1 in Katwa and 1 in Mandima; 3 deaths at Butembo CTE; 2 new healed from the CTE of Butembo. /! \ The data presented in this table are subject to change later, after extensive investigations and after redistribution of cases and deaths in their health areas . Remarks: In order to prevent the total number of cases from going up or down daily, the suspect cases have been placed in a separate category. For example, suspect cases with positive laboratory tests will be added to the confirmed category, while negative ones (non-cases) will be removed from the table. Deaths occurring at the level of the CTEs are provisionally recorded in the health zones of CTE implantation pending reclassification in the health zone of case notification. The probable case category includes all deaths for which it was not possible to obtain biological samples for laboratory confirmation but where the investigations revealed an epidemiological link with a confirmed or probable case. A community death is any death occurring outside of an Ebola Treatment Center. News of the response Investigation into the murder of Dr. Richard Valery Mouzoko Kiboung The Military Operational Court of North Kivu announced on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, the arrest of 11 people suspected of involvement in the murder of Dr. Richard Mouzoko occurred on Friday, April 19 in an attack on a team of the Ebola response. The military authorities said that of the 11 people arrested, three admitted to shooting the Cameroonian expert and shot and wounded a Congolese nurse, and at least four other prisoners admitted to having participated in the planning of the attack. The military prosecutor is continuing his investigative work and a public hearing is planned in the coming days in Butembo. The Ministry of Health has learned with satisfaction of the arrest of the alleged perpetrators of the murder of our colleague Dr. Richard Mouzoko. We hope that with these multiple arrests the police will be able to identify and bring to justice all those involved in the violence against the medical staff and health infrastructure in Butembo and those who exploit the offenders against the response. The psychologists of the psychosocial care commission continue the psychological support and debriefing sessions with the agents of the response who were victims of the attack of the University Clinics of Graben on April 19th. These agents also benefit from individual psychological counseling sessions to help them through this ordeal.

...

https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?u=89e5755d2cca4840b1af93176&id=cbd5164f97

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.who.int/csr/don/25-april-2019-ebola-drc/en/
Ebola virus disease ? Democratic Republic of the Congo

Disease outbreak news: Update
25 April 2019

This past week witnessed a notable escalation of security incidents surrounding the Ebola virus disease (EVD) response efforts. On 19 April, an attack on a hospital in Katwa by armed militia resulted in the tragic death of Dr Richard Mouzoko Kiboung, a WHO epidemiologist, and the injury of two other healthcare workers. To ensure the safety of all outbreak responders, Ebola response activities have been temporarily halted in some high-risk health areas until security measures can be reinforced.
WHO, the UN, and the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are actively collaborating to review current strategic and operational security measures to ensure the protection of healthcare workers in the field, and improve effective coordination and information sharing amongst all security elements covering the response. Existing operational security measures continue to be implemented and strengthened as well, including the establishment of security perimeters around the residences of EVD response personnel, increasing security at fixed locations, enhancing the joint quick response team (QRT) capacities of local police and UN security forces, and ensuring staff compliance with tracking procedures and adherence to curfew. These measures and other security risk management processes will be continually updated to reflect the needs of the evolving security situation on the ground.
In addition to revising security measures, efforts in community outreach through direct dialogue with various community leaders are also being intensified. Since January, there has been a notable increase in community resistance incidents, primarily around Katwa and Butembo. Incidents in April are anticipated to reach or go beyond March levels. As gaining community understanding and acceptance is integral to our ability to mount an effective outbreak response, community engagement efforts remain a significant element of our response to alleviate future security risks to healthcare workers, develop and increase local community capacity to ensure continuity of response operations, and improve the overall security situation in EVD hotspot areas.
Incidence of EVD cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo this week saw a lull compared to the week prior (Figure 1). However, this observation should be interpreted with caution and in the context of the recent disruption to response activities and case reporting in certain hotspot areas. In the 21 days between 3 ? 23 April 2019, 62 health areas within 11 health zones reported new cases; 42% of the 147 health areas affected to date (Table 1 and Figure 2). During this period, a total of 255 confirmed cases were reported from Katwa (132), Butembo (29), Vuhovi (29), Mandima (21), Beni (15), Mabalako (9), Kalunguta (6), Musienene (6), Masereka (5), Oicha (2), and Kyondo (1).
As of 23 April, a total of 1367 confirmed and probable EVD cases have been reported, of which 885 died (case fatality rate 65%). Of the total cases, 56% (765) were female, and 28% (386) were children aged less than 18 years. The number of healthcare workers affected has risen to 90 (7% of total cases), including 33 deaths. To date, a total of 392 EVD patients who received care at Ebola Treatment Centres (ETCs) have been discharged.
Figure 1: Confirmed and probable Ebola virus disease cases by week of illness onset by health zone. Data as of 23 April 2019¹.




Enlarge image
*Other health zones include the following: Biena, Bunia, Kalunguta, Kayna, Komanda, Kyondo, Lubero, Mangurujipa, Masereka, Musienene, Mutwanga, Nyankunde, Oicha, Rwampara, and Tchomia..
Figure 2: Confirmed and probable Ebola virus disease cases by health area, North Kivu and Ituri provinces, Democratic Republic of the Congo, data as of 23 April 2019.




Enlarge image
Table 1: Confirmed and probable Ebola virus disease cases, and number of health areas affected, by health zone, North Kivu and Ituri provinces, Democratic Republic of the Congo, data as of 23 April 2019**.




Enlarge image
**Total cases and areas affected based during the last 21 days are based on the initial date of case alert, and may differ from date of confirmation and daily reporting by the Ministry of Health.
Public health response

For further detailed information about the public health response actions by the MoH, WHO, and partners, please refer to the latest situation reports published by the WHO Regional Office for Africa:

• Ebola situation reports: Democratic Republic of the Congo

WHO risk assessment

WHO continuously monitors changes to the epidemiological situation and context of the outbreak to ensure that support to the response is adapted to the evolving circumstances. The last assessment concluded that the national and regional risk levels remain very high, while global risk levels remain low. Weekly increases in the number of new cases has been ongoing since late February 2019. A general deterioration of the security situation, and the persistence of pockets of community reluctance, refusal, and resistance due to mistrust exacerbated by political tensions and insecurity, have resulted in recurrent temporary suspension and delays of case investigation and response activities in affected areas, reducing the overall effectiveness of interventions. However, recent community dialogue, outreach initiatives, and restoration of access to certain hotspot areas have resulted in some improvements in community acceptance of response activities and case investigation efforts. The high proportion of community deaths reported among confirmed cases, relatively low proportion of new cases who were known contacts under surveillance, existence of transmission chains linked to nosocomial infection, persistent delays in detection and isolation in ETCs, and challenges in the timely reporting and response to probable cases, are all factors increasing the likelihood of further chains of transmission in affected communities and increasing the risk of geographical spread both within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to neighbouring countries. The high rates of population movement occurring from outbreak affected areas to other areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and across porous borders to neighbouring countries during periods of heightened insecurity further compounds these risks. Additional risks are posed by the long duration of the current outbreak, fatigue amongst response staff, and ongoing strain on limited resources. Conversely, substantive operational readiness and preparedness activities in a number of neighbouring countries, including vaccination of HCW and FLWs at prioritised health facilities, have likely increased capacity to rapidly detect cases and mitigated local spread; this must continue to be scaled-up.
WHO advice

International traffic: WHO advises against any restriction of travel to, and trade with, the Democratic Republic of the Congo based on the currently available information. There is currently no licensed vaccine to protect people from the Ebola virus. Therefore, any requirements for certificates of Ebola vaccination are not a reasonable basis for restricting movement across borders or the issuance of visas for passengers leaving the Democratic Republic of the Congo. WHO continues to closely monitor and, if necessary, verify travel and trade measures in relation to this event. Currently, no country has implemented travel measures that significantly interfere with international traffic to and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Travellers should seek medical advice before travel and should practice good hygiene.
For more information, please see:

• Press briefing on Ebola, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros
• WHO Director-General reiterates commitment to Ebola response despite another attack
• WHO expresses concern over damage to Ebola treatment facilities in DRC
• Highlights from the April 2019 meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee on the EVD outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• SAGE interim recommendations on vaccination against EVD, 20 February 2019
• WHO Interim recommendation Ebola vaccines
• Ebola response in Democratic Republic of the Congo risks slowdown
• WHO recommendations for international travellers related to the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ? Operational readiness and preparedness in neighbouring countries
• Ebola virus disease fact sheet

---

¹ Data in recent weeks are subject to delays in case confirmation and reporting, as well as ongoing data cleaning.

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR DISEASE CONTROL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE PROVINCES OF NORTH KIVU AND ITURI Friday, April 26, 2019 The epidemiological situation of the Ebola Virus Disease dated April 25, 2019 : Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,396, of which 1,330 are confirmed and 66 are probable. In total, there were 900 deaths (834 confirmed and 66 probable) and 394 people healed. 260 suspected cases under investigation; 23 new confirmed cases, including 9 in Katwa, 4 in Mandima, 3 in Musienene, 2 in Butembo, 2 in Kalunguta, 1 in Vuhovi, 1 in Komanda and 1 in Mabalako; 10 new deaths of confirmed cases, including 8 community deaths, including 5 in Katwa, 1 in Musienene, 1 in Kalunguta and 1 in Mabalako; 2 deaths at Katwa CTE.

...

https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?u=89e5755d2cca4840b1af93176&id=146da47fc9

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR DISEASE CONTROL

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE PROVINCES OF NORTH KIVU AND ITURI Saturday, April 27, 2019 The epidemiological situation of the Ebola Virus Disease dated April 26, 2019 : Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,417, of which 1,351 are confirmed and 66 are probable. In total, there were 914 deaths (848 confirmed and 66 probable) and 405 people healed. 234 suspected cases under investigation; 21 new confirmed cases, including 8 in Katwa, 6 in Butembo, 2 in Beni, 2 in Musienene, 1 in Mandima, 1 in Biena and 1 in Mabalako; 14 new confirmed case deaths, including 7 community deaths, including 4 in Katwa, 1 in Musienene, 1 in Biena and 1 in Butembo; 7 CTE deaths, including 3 from Butembo, 2 from Katwa and 2 from Mabalako; 11 new healed from the CTE, including 7 in Katwa and 4 in Butembo. /! \ The data presented in this table are subject to change later, after extensive investigations and after redistribution of cases and deaths in their health areas . Remarks: In order to prevent the total number of cases from going up or down daily, the suspect cases have been placed in a separate category. Thus, suspect cases with positive laboratory tests will be added to the confirmed category, while negative ones (non-cases) will be removed from the table. Deaths occurring at the level of the CTEs are provisionally recorded in the health zones of CTE implantation pending reclassification in the health zone of case notification. The probable case category includes all deaths for which it was not possible to obtain biological samples for laboratory confirmation but where the investigations revealed an epidemiological link with a confirmed or probable case. A community death is any death occurring outside of an Ebola Treatment Center. News of the response Meeting on the Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic at the Presidency of the Republic This Saturday, April 27, 2019, the Head of State, Felix Tshisekedi, chaired a meeting on the response to the epidemic of Ebola Virus Disease underway in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. Several members of the Government, including Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala, the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Interior and Security, the Minister of State for the Budget, the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health, were invited to this important meeting. The Minister of Health, Dr Oly Ilunga Kalenga, had the opportunity to present to the President of the Republic, as he had wished, the evolution of the epidemic as well as the challenges and positive progress of the response. In his presentation, the Minister of Health insisted that, given the difficult security situation, this epidemic had gone beyond public health. So far, the epidemic has been contained in two provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, but in order to put an end to it, it is necessary to strengthen the multisectoral component of the response, and therefore the involvement of other ministries. under the coordination of the Prime Minister, Head of Government.

...
https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?u...&id=20f3172f2b

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

Ebola fight: Felix Tshisekedi creates a multisectoral and collegiate steering committee

Posted on Sun, 28/04/2019 - 10:55 | Edited on Sun, 28/04/2019 - 12:04

President F?lix-Antoine decided on Saturday (April 27th) to create a collegial and multisectoral steering committee to fight against the Ebola virus disease.

"The management of the epidemic is now collegial and multisectoral. A steering committee of response was created ", indicates a report of the Presidency of the Republic.

Chaired by the Prime Minister, this committee will have the involvement of the Presidency of the Republic, the Ministries of Defense, the Interior, the Budget, Finance and Humanitarian Affairs and the Director General of INRB, Dr Jean-Jacques Muyembe.

According to the Presidency, these measures aim to eradicate this epidemic as soon as possible.

"Given the difficult security environment, this epidemic has gone beyond the public health framework alone. So far, the epidemic has been contained in two provinces of the DRC. But to put a decisive end, it is necessary to strengthen the multisectoral component of the response, and therefore the involvement of other key ministries, under the coordination of the Prime Minister, "said in a statement the Ministry of Health.

President Tshisekedi also decided to strengthen the role of the national police and the army in collaboration with MONUSCO to secure Ebola response and treatment centers.

The Ministries of Finance and Budget have been instructed "to put the substantial resources at the disposal of the Steering Committee of response so that the experts have all the appropriate logistics."

Experts from the INRB, the School of Public Health and researchers from the University of Kinshasa were associated to this meeting which analyzed the situation of the Ebola virus epidemic and its eradication.

https://www.radiookapi.net/2019/04/28/actualite/sante/lutte-contre-ebola-felix-tshisekedi-cree-un-comite-de-pilotage

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

Beni: 3 health centers closed following Mayi-Mayi threats in Bashu

April 27, 2019 | No comment

In Bashu chiefdom in the territory of Beni, three health centers in the Vuhovi area have been closed for more than a month following the activism of armed groups.

Mai-Mai militias continue to threaten the health care workers and community relays of these health facilities that they accuse of being in collaboration with Ebola response teams, says our source.

These health facilities include the health centers of Isonga, Vuhesi and Katanda.

Residents of the Bashu chiefdom who do not know where to go for emergency treatment call for the rapid intervention of the authorities concerned to reopen these health centers.

According to Moise Kiputulu, a resident of the square, the nursing staff in the said centers, has found himself unable to do his job well since the assassination of the nurse holding the Isonga health center on 19 February.

Since then, he continues, local nurses continue to receive threats from Mai-Mai militia, promising death if they continue to maintain good relations with the Ebola response teams.

Joel Kaseso / Correspondent 7SUR7.CD in Butembo

https://7sur7.cd/beni-3-centres-de-sante-fermes-suite-aux-menaces-des-mai-mai-a-bashu/

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR DISEASE CONTROL

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE PROVINCES OF NORTH KIVU AND ITURI Sunday, April 28, 2019 The epidemiological situation of the Ebola Virus Disease dated April 27, 2019 : Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,439, of which 1,373 are confirmed and 66 are probable. In total, there were 931 deaths (865 confirmed and 66 probable) and 410 people healed. 263 suspected cases under investigation; 22 new confirmed cases, including 6 in Butembo, 4 in Katwa, 4 in Mabalako, 3 in Mandima, 3 in Kalunguta, 1 in Beni and 1 in Musienene; 17 new deaths of confirmed cases, including 10 community / hospital deaths including 3 in Kalunguta, 2 in Katwa, 2 in Mandima, 1 in Butembo, 1 in Musienene and 1 in Mabalako; 7 deaths at CTE, including 4 in Butembo and 3 in Katwa; 5 new cures from the Butembo CTE; UPDATE : Three health workers were among the new confirmed cases in the last two weeks, including 1 (deceased) reported in the Ebola report of 19 April 2019 and 2 reported in the bulletin of 26 April 2019. The cumulative number of confirmed cases / probable among health workers is 92 (6.39% of all confirmed / probable cases) including 33 deaths.

...

https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?u=89e5755d2cca4840b1af93176&id=056125fadf

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

BENI: 2nd outbreak of Ebola at Mabuku Hospital

Posted on: 29/04/2019 at 17h47min44s

By Radio Moto Butembo-Beni

Second appearance of a case of Ebola virus disease in the Mabuku hospital center, in the rural health zone of Kalunguta in the territory of Beni Saturday, April 27, 2019. The patient fled the health center MAMBOMBO in the health zone Mabalako. He then went for care at a health post in Mabuku where he spent a week before going to Mabuku Hospital where he died.

"For me it's really deplorable because the patient really came too late. Just when we wanted to do first aid, it was already very serious. Just after, he arrived on April 27 at 1am. He is dead. Then, as usual, we must always take sample on the dead. When we took it, the result came back positive Ebola. Which worried us more; and in the frame, it was found that the patient came from Ngazi. It was there that he was treated a week ago to arrive here in Mabuku. That's how we got a second case here in Mabuku, "said Dr. KAMOTO of Mabuku Hospital Center.

Meanwhile, the vaccination went well at Mabuku Hospital. 20 people were vaccinated. The low participation of contacts or of some who have denied has been noted. And Dr. KAMOTO is shocked.

"Others who are also concerned are avoiding the vaccine and saying that it does not concern them, while the disease exists. People need to understand that the vaccine is there to prevent, "he said.

FARDC soldiers and suspected Mai-Mai militia have secured this vaccination campaign.

Posted on: 29/04/2019 at 17h47min44sBy Radio Moto Butembo-Beni

https://radiomotofm.info/lirearticle.php?billet=5779

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR DISEASE CONTROL

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE PROVINCES OF NORTH KIVU AND ITURI Monday, April 29, 2019 The epidemiological situation of the Ebola Virus Disease dated April 28, 2019 : Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,466, 1,400 confirmed and 66 probable. In total, there were 957 deaths (891 confirmed and 66 probable) and 411 people cured. 239 suspected cases under investigation; 27 new confirmed cases, including 10 in Katwa, 6 in Mandima, 5 in Mabalako, 2 in Beni, 2 in Musienene, 1 in Mutwanga and 1 in Butembo; 26 new deaths of confirmed cases, including 15 community / hospital deaths, 8 in Katwa, 3 in Mandima, 2 in Mabalako, 1 in Musienene and 1 in Beni; 11 CTE / CT deaths, including 5 in Mandima, 4 in Katwa and 2 in Butembo; 1 new healed from the CTE of Komanda. /! \ The data presented in this table are subject to change later, after extensive investigations and after redistribution of cases and deaths in their health areas . Remarks: In order to prevent the total number of cases from going up or down daily, the suspect cases have been placed in a separate category. Thus, suspect cases with positive laboratory tests will be added to the confirmed category, while negative ones (non-cases) will be removed from the table. Deaths occurring at the level of the CTEs are provisionally recorded in the health zones of CTE implantation pending reclassification in the health zone of case notification. The probable case category includes all deaths for which it was not possible to obtain biological samples for laboratory confirmation but where the investigations revealed an epidemiological link with a confirmed or probable case. A community death is any death occurring outside of an Ebola Treatment Center. News of the response Eye health of Ebola winners Research over the past few years on people who have survived Ebola Virus Disease has revealed that nearly 20% of Ebola survivors develop eye problems of various forms, including eye inflammation that can lead to total loss of Ebola. view. Early diagnosis and treatment of these problems limits the risk of serious sequelae. For example, as part of the National Ebola Survival Program, the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization set up an eye clinic in Beni and Butembo to check the eye health of survivors and provide them with information. specialized care where appropriate. The two partners in this project are two American universities, Emory University and the University of North Carolina. During their mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, international ophthalmologists conducted refresher sessions for their Congolese colleagues. Ten Congolese ophthalmologists have been trained on how to diagnose and treat eye problems related to the Ebola virus. This is the first time that ophthalmic monitoring of survivors has been implemented so quickly after survivors have left Ebola treatment centers during an active epidemic. As a reminder, the Ministry of Health and its partners have created a national program to monitor Ebola winners. This program provides monthly clinical, biological and psychosocial follow-up for Ebola survivors. Vaccination Since the beginning of vaccination on August 8, 2018, 107,565 people have been vaccinated , including 28,826 in Katwa, 23,107 in Beni, 13,246 in Butembo, 6,964 in Mabalako, 4,862 in Mandima, 3,269 in Kalunguta, 3,070 in Goma, 2,729 in Oicha, 2,699 at Komanda, 1,915 at Vuhovi, 1,889 at Masereka, 1,748 at Kyondo, 1,630 at Kayina, 1,487 at Bunia, 1,357 at Karisimbi, 1,313 at Lubero, 1,047 at Musienene, 1,025 at Biena, 772 at Mutwanga, 690 at Rutshuru, 557 in Rwampara (Ituri), 527 in Nyankunde, 496 in Mangurujipa, 420 in Mambasa, 355 in Tchomia, 342 in Kirotshe, 333 in Lolwa, 254 in Alimbongo, 250 in Mweso, 245 in Kibirizi, 161 in Nyiragongo, 97 in Watsa (Haut-U?l?) and 13 in Kisangani. The only vaccine to be used in this outbreak is the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine, manufactured by the pharmaceutical group Merck, following approval by the Ethics Committee in its decision of 19 May 2018.

...

https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?u=89e5755d2cca4840b1af93176&id=7e304ee84e

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

Ituri-Makumo: Demonstration to demand the departure of members of the Ebola response

8 hours ago By editorial staff

(Kinshasa, April 30, 2019) - The military and police fired live ammunition on Monday to disperse the population who wanted to dislodge members of the Ebola response team in Makumo. The activities are paralyzed in this chief place of the Bangole group about 85 km south of Mambasa, Ituri province.

Yves Baraka, a member of civil society, says the population attacking the response team says they do not understand the many deaths recorded as a result of Ebola.

During this tension, 5 bodies of people who died of Ebola were waiting to be buried.

The provisional record of this popular fury mentions two straw huts burned. They served as a health post and monitoring post for patients vaccinated against Ebola.

In mid-day soldiers from Biakato were deployed to control the situation.

D?P?CHE.CD

http://www.depeche.cd/ituri-makumo-manifestation-pour-exiger-le-depart-des-membres-de-la-riposte-contre-ebola/

[Pathfinder]

International Partners Meet in Kampala to Discuss Ebola Preparedness and Response

Kampala, 30th April 2019: - The Meeting on Strengthening Partnership for Improving Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) opened in Kampala yesterday with a call to delegates to undertake frank discussions to unearth critical risk factors and challenges in the response and suggest feasible solutions to register concrete results.

?The increasing complexity of the current EVD outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces in DRC presents a major risk of spreading of EVD within DRC and neighbouring countries. This outbreak is therefore not a problem of the DRC alone,? said Dr Jane Ruth Aceng Uganda?s Health Minter, while opening the meeting.

Organized under the theme ?Outbreak Preparedness and Readiness? the meeting is intended to further engage partners for a better coordinated and comprehensive preparedness and response efforts to accelerate and achieve sustained EVD readiness.

Specifically, delegates from the nine countries attending the meetings will try to establish a common understanding by providing an overview of the strategic readiness, capacities and capabilities for EVD. The delegates are sharing information between countries and key partners and providing updates on the key achievements, major challenges, lessons learned and best practices. At the end of the meeting, delegates will renew stakeholder?s commitment by developing a joint road map for sustained EVD preparedness.

As the EVD outbreak continues to escalate in the Democratic Republic (DRC), public health workers across the region are realizing that if the outbreak is not contained in DRC, it is probably a matter of time before it spreads to neighbouring countries. The data and conditions on the ground seem to back up this realization.

As of 24th April 2019, a total of 1307 cases with 824 deaths had been confirmed in the densely populated Beni and Butebo provinces of DRC. The confirmed cases include 90 health workers of whom 33 have died indicating that there are enormous challenges with Infection Prevention and Control in health facilities.

Many deaths have also occurred in the communities which is a public health concern because that is confirmation of many contacts and sustained spread of the infection in communities. Most worrying is the precarious security situation in the affected areas that has constrained the implementation of the response activities. According to a presentation from DRC, there are about 30 armed groups in the affected areas some of which have attacked Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs) in the recent past.

There are also pockets of resistance and hostility in some communities which has constrained the contribution of community engagement in the response. In some instances, patients have escaped from ETUs and gone back to communities which has perpetuated the outbreak. In addition, the terrain and road network have also challenged community responders from reaching all affected areas.

Therefore, the countries neighbouring DRC have reason to worry. They share long porous borders with DRC compounded by high population movements. It is a unique outbreak with complicated underlying factors which calls for sustained cross-border collaboration and international support.

?Your efforts and specifically your leadership are critical in ensuring that adequate capacities and capabilities are effectively implemented in your areas of jurisdiction and your countries, to timely prevent and contain EVD,? noted Dr Matshidiso Moeti the WHO Regional Director for Africa in a speech read for her at the opening event. She called for the urgent commitment of financial and human resources to facilitate smooth preparedness operations. ?I urge the ministries of health here today to increase investment in epidemic preparedness in line with the national contingency plans,? she added.

From the country presentation, it is clear that all countries are in heightened response mode implementing many capacity building activities. Many have set up multi-sectoral committees that are leading the preparedness and response. In DRC for instance, this committee is led by the Prime Minister who convenes different government sectors to contribute to the response.

The delegates concurred that the battle against EVD in DRC will be won or lost in the community. They, thus, agreed on more action and investment in community engagement so as to build ownership and leadership by communities. It was also clear that countries have national and in some cases district operational readiness to deal with EVD. While this readiness is not sufficient, it should, however, be maintained and rolled out to the high-risk areas in all countries and to maintain the momentum and interest of all people.

At the end of the two-day meeting, delegates will come out with a roadmap that will further guide the implementation of the EVD readiness interventions in all the 10 countries.
As Dr Moeti noted: ?We should continue to act together to overcome the gaps identified so that countries are prepared for the potential threat of Ebola!?

The meeting is attended by delegates from Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

https://www.afro.who.int/news/international-partners-meet-kampala-discuss-ebola-preparedness-and-response

[Pathfinder]

Congo Ebola cases hit record for most reported in single day

By AL-HADJI KUDRA MALIRO and KRISTA LARSON
today

BUTEMBO, Congo (AP) ?
...
Health experts are expressing growing alarm about the number of people sickened with the Ebola virus who are never reaching treatment centers, allowing the disease to spread to caregivers and countless others.
...
The fact that many are dying outside the health care system means the full scale of the crisis is unknown.

?There might be double this many cases in reality that we?re just not aware of,? said Tariq Riebl, emergency response director for the Ebola response crisis with the International Rescue Committee.

?A very small number are actually presenting themselves to health centers,? he said.
...

https://www.apnews.com/86e566e2f22d44728dc620a5546e0d13

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR DISEASE CONTROL

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE PROVINCES OF NORTH KIVU AND ITURI Tuesday, April 30, 2019 The epidemiological situation of the Ebola Virus Disease dated 29 April 2019 : Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,480, of which 1,414 are confirmed and 66 are probable. In total, there were 970 deaths (904 confirmed and 66 probable) and 412 people cured. 279 suspected cases under investigation; 14 new confirmed cases, including 6 in Katwa, 2 in Musienene, 2 in Butembo, 1 in Mabalako, 1 in Beni, 1 in Kayna and 1 in Kalunguta; 13 new confirmed case deaths, including 6 community / hospital deaths, 2 in Katwa, 2 in Musienene, 1 in Kayna and 1 in Beni; 7 CTE / CT deaths, including 4 in Butembo and 3 in Katwa; 1 new healed from the CTE of Butembo. /! \ The data presented in this table are subject to change later, after extensive investigations and after redistribution of cases and deaths in their health areas . Remarks: In order to prevent the total number of cases from going up or down daily, the suspect cases have been placed in a separate category. For example, suspect cases with positive laboratory tests will be added to the confirmed category, while negative ones (non-cases) will be removed from the table. Deaths occurring at the level of the CTEs are provisionally recorded in the health zones of CTE implantation pending reclassification in the health zone of case notification. The probable case category includes all deaths for which it was not possible to obtain biological samples for laboratory confirmation but where the investigations revealed an epidemiological link with a confirmed or probable case. A community death is any death occurring outside of an Ebola Treatment Center. News of the response Establishment of multisectoral Ebola Response Committee Considering the persistence of the Ebola epidemic in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri and on the instructions of the President of the Republic at the meeting of 27 April 2019, Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala Nzenzhe and the Minister of Health, Dr. Oly Ilunga Kalenga, signed on Tuesday, April 30, 2019, the decree establishing, organizing and operating the multisectoral committee for the response of the Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This Committee's mission is to: Oversee the multi-sectoral response to the current Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri; Formulate the necessary measures to be taken at government level; Collaborate with institutions at central, provincial and decentralized territorial entities to prevent the spread of the epidemic; Propose the allocation of resources needed for the response to end the epidemic; Ensure an optimal link between the overall response strategy and sectoral policies. The Committee meets once a week and whenever necessary, when convened by its Coordinator. He reports to the President of the Republic, once a week, and keeps him fully informed of the work, interventions and evolution of the epidemic. The Committee is composed of the Prime Minister, who is the Coordinator, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior and Security, the Minister of the Budget, the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Health who is the Secretary of the Committee, the Minister of Communication and Media, the Minister of Humanitarian Action and National Solidarity, the Minister of Social Affairs, and a representative of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic. Each member of the Committee is responsible for the response in their area of activity. Each member of the Committee invites the experts and partners in the work of his sector of activity whenever necessary. These experts and partners will be able to integrate the technical commissions and take part in the work of each sector of activity. As a reminder, for the health pillar of the Ebola response, the Ministry of Health has created nine commissions, each led by a Ministry program or directorate. These nine commissions are: Surveillance (General Directorate for Disease Control, DGLM) Port of Entry Surveillance (National Hygiene Program at the Borders, PNHF) Medical care (National Program of Emergencies and Humanitarian Actions, PNUAH, and the National Institute of Biomedical Research, INRB) Logistics Vaccination (Expanded Program on Immunization, PEV, and INRB) Laboratory (INRB) Infection Prevention and Control (Health Directorate of the DGLM) Psychosocial care (National Mental Health Program) Communication and Community Engagement (National Program for Communication and Health Promotion) World Health Organization High-Level Mission in Butembo WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti concluded their visit to Butembo on Tuesday, 30 April 2019. This high-level visit took place only ten days after the murder of Dr. Richard Mouzoko, a WHO epidemiologist from Cameroon. Click here to read the WHO communiqu? on this mission. Vaccination Since the beginning of vaccination on August 8, 2018, 108,175 people have been vaccinated , including 29,182 in Katwa, 23,177 in Beni, 13,355 in Butembo, 6,973 in Mabalako, 4,862 in Mandima, 3,335 in Kalunguta, 3,070 in Goma, 2,729 in Oicha, 2,699 at Komanda, 1,915 at Vuhovi, 1,889 at Masereka, 1,748 at Kyondo, 1,630 at Kayina, 1,487 at Bunia, 1,357 at Karisimbi, 1,313 at Lubero, 1,047 at Musienene, 1,025 at Biena, 772 at Mutwanga, 690 at Rutshuru, 557 in Rwampara (Ituri), 527 in Nyankunde, 496 in Mangurujipa, 420 in Mambasa, 355 in Tchomia, 342 in Kirotshe, 333 in Lolwa, 254 in Alimbongo, 250 in Mweso, 245 in Kibirizi, 161 in Nyiragongo, 97 in Watsa (Haut-U?l?) and 13 in Kisangani. The only vaccine to be used in this outbreak is the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine, manufactured by the pharmaceutical group Merck, following approval by the Ethics Committee in its decision of 19 May 2018. WEEKLY SUMMARY OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA Week 17 (April 22-28, 2019) For the week of April 22-28, 2019, we recorded: 1,588 suspected cases investigated and tested in the laboratory 126 new confirmed cases : The city of Butembo remains the main focus of the epidemic. Together, the two areas of the city, namely Butembo and Katwa, reported half of the new cases (64 cases out of 126, or 50.8%). 83 deaths of confirmed cases: The town of Butembo is also the main focus of confirmed case fatalities reported last week. The health zones of Butembo and Katwa together reported 53 of the 83 new confirmed case deaths, or 63.9%; Of the 83 deaths, 47 were community deaths, or 56.6%, and 36 occurred in an ETC. 24 new healed people left the CTE.

...

https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?u=89e5755d2cca4840b1af93176&id=ddc32ac4b8