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

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    DRC: New attack on Ebola response team in Butembo

    Friday, April 19, 2019 - 14:15

    Armed men conducted a new attack on Friday 19 April 2019 against the university clinic of the Catholic University of Graben (UCG) in Butembo located Malende district in the commune of Kimemi. This clinic hosts an Ebola response team that triage cases of the disease.

    The attack began at 1400 hours and lasted at least half an hour.

    "They surprised the team of response (against Ebola, Ed) in full meeting. The shots lasted between 30 and 45 minutes. We are in our hiding places with patients. They have just burned a vehicle of the riposte. A doctor assigned to the response has been shot. He is in the emergency room right now. But the police and the army come to intervene. The shooting stopped. We're going to be out soon, "says to ACTUALITE.CD Achille Mukekya, intern ophthalmologist at the clinic.

    The Ebola Response Team has been working at the clinic for a long time, but it has been a month since its case triage services have been installed there.

    The University Clinic of Graben Catholic University organizes several services including ophthalmology, physiotherapy and cardiology.


    Des hommes armés ont mené une nouvelle attaque, ce vendredi 19 avril 2019, contre la clinique de l'Université Catholique de Graben (UCG), au quartier Malende, dans la commune de Kimemi, à Butembo.


    ------------------------------------------------------

    WORLD NEWSAPRIL 19, 2019 / 11:10 AM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

    Attacks on hospital in Ebola zone kill Cameroonian doctor

    GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Attacks on a hospital at the epicenter of Democratic Republic of Congo?s Ebola outbreak have killed a Cameroonian doctor and injured several others, the local mayor said on Friday.

    ...

    "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
    -Nelson Mandela

    Comment


    • Tedros Adhanom GhebreyesusVerified account @DrTedros FollowFollow
      @DrTedros


      More




      Today we lost one of our very own: Dr Richard Valery Mouzoko Kiboung, an epidemiologist deployed in the #Ebola response in #DRC, during a hospital attack in Butembo. We grieve together with his family during this difficult time.

      Comment


      • WHO Ebola responder killed in attack on the Butembo hospital

        19 April 2019 Statement

        Geneva


        Today, Dr Richard Valery Mouzoko Kiboung, an epidemiologist deployed by WHO in the response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was killed in an attack on Butembo University Hospital. Two other persons were injured in the attack but are believed to be in a stable condition.
        Today we lost one of our very own: Dr Richard Valery Mouzoko Kiboung, an epidemiologist deployed in the #Ebola response in #DRC, during a hospital attack in Butembo.

        We grieve together with his family during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/dJ52VL64Yn
        Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
        @DrTedros

        Today we lost one of our very own: Dr Richard Valery Mouzoko Kiboung, an epidemiologist deployed in the #Ebola response in #DRC, during a hospital attack in Butembo.
        We grieve together with his family during this difficult time.
        120
        3:08 PM - Apr 19, 2019




        “I and all of WHO are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and brother Dr Mouzoko. He put himself on the frontline to save lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “We grieve with his family and friends at this very difficult time.”
        “This is a tragic reminder of the risks health workers take every day to protect the lives and health of others. We are outraged by this attack: health workers and health facilities must never be targets.”

        The attack took place during a coordination meeting being held at the hospital at that time.

        “We are assessing the security situation to ensure the safety of all patients, health workers and Ebola responders”, said Dr Tedros. “At the same time, we remain committed to continue supporting the Ministry of Health of DRC to end this outbreak as quickly as possible.”

        https://www.who.int/news-room/detail...tembo-hospital



        "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
        -Nelson Mandela

        Comment


        • Translation Google
          DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR DISEASE CONTROL
          EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE PROVINCES OF NORTH KIVU AND ITURI

          Friday, April 19, 2019


          The epidemiological situation of the Ebola Virus Disease dated April 18, 2019 :
          • Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,317, of which 1,251 are confirmed and 66 are probable. In total, there were 855 deaths (789 confirmed and 66 probable) and 383 people cured.
          • 293 suspected cases under investigation;
          • 15 new confirmed cases, 11 in Katwa, 1 in Butembo, 1 in Mandima, 1 in Masereka and 1 in Kalunguta;
          • 12 new deaths of confirmed cases, including
            • 8 community deaths, 7 in Katwa and 1 in Masereka;
            • 4 deaths at CTE, including 3 in Butembo and 1 in Katwa;
          • 3 new cures, 2 of which came out of Mabalako CTE and 1 from Butembo CTE.

          /! \ 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

          Armed attack at Clinics of the Catholic University of Graben (UCG)
          • This Friday, April 19, 2019, a Cameroonian epidemiologist deployed by the World Health Organization, Dr. Richard MOUZOKO KIBOUNG, died of his wounds during an attack at clinics at the Catholic University of Graben, Butembo. Dr. Richard was the coordinator of the response in the Vutsundo health area. He was chairing a meeting with his team when three armed men burst into the room and opened fire on the teams. A local doctor and a driver were also injured in the attack. The attackers also burned vehicles and the yard built at the entrance of the hospital.
          • Click here to read the WHO official statement
          • Click here to read the message from the Minister of Health


          ...
          "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
          -Nelson Mandela

          Comment


          • Source: https://www.who.int/csr/don/18-april-2019-ebola-drc/en/
            Ebola virus disease ? Democratic Republic of the Congo

            Disease outbreak news: Update
            18 April 2019

            The incidence of Ebola virus disease (EVD) cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continued to increase this week; however, it remained confined to a limited geographical area within North Kivu and Ituri provinces. This recent trend is likely attributable, in part, to past and ongoing security issues, unrest amongst certain local populations, and lingering community mistrust towards outbreak response teams. Improved case detection and response activities have been observed in previously inaccessible hotspots.
            In the 21 days between 27 March and 16 April 2019, 55 health areas within 11 health zones reported new cases; 39% of the 143 health areas affected to date (Table 1 and Figure 2). During this period, a total of 249 confirmed cases were reported from Katwa (124), Vuhovi (40), Mandima (28), Butembo (24), Beni (16), Oicha (6), Mabalako (5), Kalunguta (2), Masereka (2), Musienene (1), and Lubero (1).
            As of 16 April, a total of 1290 confirmed and probable EVD cases have been reported, of which 833 died (case fatality rate 65%). Of the 1290 cases with reported age and sex, 56% (725) were female, and 28% (361) were children aged less than 18 years. The number of healthcare workers affected has risen to 89 (7% of total cases), including 32 deaths. To date, a total of 379 EVD patients who received care at Ebola Treatment Centres (ETCs) have been discharged.
            On 12 April 2019, the International Health Regulation (IHR) Emergency Committee convened in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss whether the EVD outbreak posed a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and offer response recommendations. While the Emergency Committee and the WHO Director-General reiterated their serious concern at the recent rise in the number of cases and the high risk of regional spread, upon consultation with various technical experts and further review of available epidemiological data, it was concluded that the current outbreak did not constitute a PHEIC. For the complete WHO statement concerning the 12 April IHR Emergency Committee meeting, please see here.
            The ongoing vaccination efforts have produced some promising results this past week. On 12 April 2019, WHO and Institut National de Recherche Biom?dicale (INRB) published a preliminary analysis concerning the efficacy of the rVSV-ZEBOV-GP vaccine currently utilised in this outbreak (please see full report here). The data suggested the vaccine demonstrated notable efficacy in preventing Ebola infections in vaccinated individuals compared to those who are unvaccinated. Between 2-4 April 2019, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) convened a meeting to review the epidemiological data and offer further recommendations to the ongoing vaccination efforts. They urged the further expansion of those eligible for vaccination to include children older than 6 months and lactating women; two populations observed to have especially high attack rates and high case fatality rates (please see here for further highlights from SAGE meeting).
            In light of the findings, WHO and partners are evolving the existing vaccination strategy on the ground. Along with intensifying contact tracing of cases and vaccinating their known immediate contacts, a greater emphasis is being placed on following up contacts of contacts and ensuring these at-risk individuals are adequately vaccinated against Ebola. Various approaches are being employed at this time to vaccinate people at-risk including:
            • Site-by-site vaccinations at the places of residence and other locations previously visited by cases
            • Simultaneous vaccination of healthcare and frontline workers (HCW/FLW), and others at increased risk working in healthcare facilities
            • Pop-up vaccination, where those at risk are invited to an agreed upon location, outside their place of residence
            • Targeted geographic vaccination of villages if contacts, and contacts of contacts, cannot be clearly ascertained due to security constraints, but are invited to a previously agreed upon site to be vaccinated.

            Through these strategies, 23 operational vaccination teams have effectively closed previously observed gaps in the vaccination rings surrounding reported cases; rings are currently pending for 10 of the 257 cases confirmed during the period between 28 March to 16 April 2019. As of 16 April, a total of 102 501 contacts and contacts of contacts have been vaccinated, of whom 29 720 were HCWs/FLWs. Outside of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, vaccination of frontline healthcare workers commenced in neighbouring Rwanda on 16 April 2019, with 176 HCWs/FLWs already vaccinated. It is expected that the vaccination strategy will be an effective means to slowing the spread of EVD.
            Infection prevention and control (IPC) efforts have also yielded some notable progress this past week. A revised IPC strategy with an operational work plan for February to May 2019 period has been endorsed by the Ministry of Health (MoH). The strategy and work plan are intended to guide the national coordination activities of the Ebola response?s IPC Task Force, and the implementation of activities by the IPC commissions and partners at the subnational level. To support this operational shift, Risk Communication and Community Engagement research initiatives are being developed to better understand transmission pathways that can be addressed by the IPC coordination activities. Additional support will be provided by collecting feedback through community dialogue on how IPC can be better implemented at the community level.
            While the EVD outbreak remains ongoing and the rise in number of cases is likely to continue in the following weeks, it should be noted that substantial progress has been made to adapt response strategies to the ever-evolving situation. Despite the multitude of challenges posed by having to mount a robust outbreak response in the demanding circumstances in which this EVD outbreak is currently taking place, WHO and partners are continuing to intensify all facets of the response efforts to curtail the further spread of EVD in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
            Figure 1: Confirmed and probable Ebola virus disease cases by week of illness onset, data as of 16 April 2019*




            *Data in recent weeks are subject to delays in case confirmation and reporting, as well as ongoing data cleaning.
            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 15 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 16 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:
            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, see:



            1The number of cases is subject to change due to ongoing reclassification, retrospective investigation and the availability of laboratory results.

            Comment


            • Translation Google

              Ebola in DRC: Security forces repel attack on general hospital in Butembo, a militia killed

              Saturday 20 April 2019 - 08:23
              Ph. ACTUALITE.CD

              The army and police on Saturday (April 20th) repulsed another armed attack on the Katwa General Hospital in Butembo town, North Kivu. This facility located in the municipality of Mususa hosts a patient triage center for the surveillance of Ebola virus disease.

              It was around 3 o'clock that armed attackers tried to vandalize these installations, before being repulsed by loyalist forces they crossed on the spot.

              "They tried to commit their dirty work against the hospital in Katwa, luckily we were vigilant, we pushed them back and hunted them down," said ACTUALITY.CD Sylvain Kanyamanda, Mayor of Butembo.

              The city authority reports that Loyalist forces are continuing to search, but in the meantime reports a death on the assailants' side, including a militiaman shot. Four more militiamen were captured

              The Katwa General Hospital is located near the Ebola Treatment Center (ETC), which was the first attack target of gunmen last February.

              The new attack comes the day after the assassination of a Cameroonian epidemiologist, an employee of the World Health Organization (WHO), killed in an armed attack against a team responding to the medical clinics of the Catholic University of Graben (UCG) of Butembo.

              Claude Sengeya, in Butembo

              "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
              -Nelson Mandela

              Comment


              • Translation Google


                Interview. Oly Ilunga: "The current response has prevented Ebola from becoming a real human and economic tragedy"

                Saturday 20th April 2019 - 15:15

                The Minister of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) explains, in the interview he gave to the Kinshasa Courier, the interventions that are being conducted in the field as part of the response to Ebola. He says that many factors make this disease the most complex epidemic to manage in the history of the world.

                Courrier de Kinshasa (L.C.K.): What is the current situation of the Ebola epidemic in the DRC?

                Oly Ilunga (O.I.): As of April 17, we recorded 1,302 cases of Ebola, including 843 deaths and 380 cures. Nine months since its appearance, we have managed to contain this epidemic in only two provinces of the country, namely North Kivu and Ituri. A total of 21 health zones have already notified at least one confirmed case of Ebola.

                L.C.K. : More than one hundred thousand people have been vaccinated against Ebola so far, but what is the overall situation of the response?

                O.I. : Overall, the current response has prevented this epidemic from becoming a real human and economic tragedy for the entire country. Of the 100,000 vaccinated people, more than 26,000 are high-risk contacts who have been directly in contact with the bodily fluids of an Ebola-infected person. Without the intervention of health workers, the majority of these people would have developed the disease. We are constantly improving our interventions in the field but we are proud to have already been able to prevent several thousand more cases and deaths from Ebola.

                L.C.K. : What justifies that the epidemic could not be contained in the place where it was declared?

                O.I. It is a combination of factors that caused the rapid spread of the epidemic beyond the epicenter of Mangina. First, local health workers very late alerted the central level of the increase in mortality at home because they were on strike. When the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) received the first samples, in Kinshasa, about thirty people had already died. Second, the population in the affected provinces is highly mobile and the road network is relatively well developed and maintained. Mangina is only thirty kilometers from Beni. When the response teams arrived in August 2018, the disease had already spread to Beni. And it is this constant mobility of the population that is also at the root of the spread of the epidemic to Butembo and other health areas in the region.

                L.C.K. : The effectiveness of the rVSV-Zebov-GP vaccine is estimated at 97.5% to control the spread of the Ebola outbreak. What exactly is this vaccine?

                O.I. : For the moment, we have sufficient stocks of vaccine. His producer had confirmed that 300,000 doses of vaccine were already available and that additional doses could be produced. But the reaction of the population to the Ebola vaccine is ambivalent. On the one hand, high-risk contacts refuse to be vaccinated and, on the other, the population demands that we organize a mass campaign for everyone; which is not possible. In general, however, we have managed to vaccinate the majority of targeted people (about 91%).

                L.C.K. : On April 12, the Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that the Ebola outbreak is not a "public health emergency of international concern"? How do you analyze this conclusion?

                O.I. First of all, we must know that the DRC does not fight this epidemic alone. Since its declaration on August 1, 2018, all the major international partners of the Ministry of Health have joined us, including WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, Monusco and international NGOs such as M?decins sans fronti?res and Alima. With the spread of the epidemic in the region, new international actors have also joined us.

                The WHO Emergency Committee is a committee of international scientific experts convened by the Director General of this UN agency, Dr. Tedros Adhanom. Their role was to assess the effectiveness of the current response from a public health perspective to contain the epidemic. International experts have decided to declare that this epidemic does not constitute "a public health emergency of international concern" because, from a public health point of view, all measures are taken to contain it. They acknowledged that region-specific factors, such as insecurity, have slowed down the work of the response teams. But recent adjustments to the response that place greater emphasis on community engagement are beginning to bear fruit in reducing the incidence of violence against field teams.

                L.C.K. What are the problems that the country faces in this response?

                O.I. : Many factors make this Ebola disease the most complex epidemic to manage in the history of the world. Of course, there are hundreds of armed groups in the area, making some areas inaccessible. Then, the population, having faced violence for more than twenty years, has developed mechanisms of self-defense compared to anyone outside the community. Gaining the trust of a population that has long felt neglected by the government and the international community is an ongoing challenge that our teams on the ground have to face. The only solution is to listen to the local people, respect their traditions and make sure they take ownership of the response. This community engagement approach allowed us access to areas controlled by armed groups that understood the danger of the disease and accepted our help to protect their population.

                L.C.K. : What about another epidemic, that of chikungunya that would also be declared in the DRC, particularly in Kinshasa and central Kongo?

                O.I. : Indeed, several cases of chikungunya have been detected in Kinshasa and central Kongo but it is not a public health emergency, since it is a disease that is rarely fatal. To protect themselves, the population must respect the same preventive measures as those applicable in the case of malaria.

                L.C.K. : How to eradicate Ebola completely in the DRC and avoid a new appearance of this disease?

                O.I. : Ebola is a natural virus whose reservoir is found in the equatorial forest that covers more than half of the territory of the DRC. Viruses are not eliminated. In the entire history of mankind, only one virus, that of smallpox, has been eliminated. All others continue to exist and resurface every year, such as the flu virus.

                When faced with a naturally-occurring virus, the goal of government action is not to eliminate it, but to improve the ability to monitor, detect, and contain it by rapid action to prevent it. any risk of national and international spread. So, Ebola will always be part of our lives but, over time, new public health tools, including vaccines and therapeutic molecules, and better training of Congolese health workers will enable us to ensure that sporadic cases of Ebola is no longer an epidemic.



                Interviewed by Patrick Ndungidi

                "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                -Nelson Mandela

                Comment


                • Translation Google
                  DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR DISEASE CONTROL
                  EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE PROVINCES OF NORTH KIVU AND ITURI

                  Saturday, April 20, 2019


                  The epidemiological situation of the Ebola Virus Disease dated April 19, 2019 :
                  • Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,327, of which 1,261 are confirmed and 66 are probable. In total, there were 859 deaths (793 confirmed and 66 probable) and 387 people cured.
                  • 250 suspected cases under investigation;
                  • 10 new confirmed cases, including 3 in Katwa, 2 in Butembo, 2 in Kalunguta, 1 in Masereka, 1 in Vuhovi, and 1 in Beni;
                  • 4 new confirmed case deaths, including
                    • 3 community deaths, including 1 in Katwa, 1 in Kalunguta and 1 in Vuhovi;
                    • 1 death at the CTE of Butembo;
                  • 4 new cures, including 2 from the CTE of Beni and 2 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

                  Mass of thanksgiving in memory of Dr. Richard Mouzoko in Butembo
                  • A Mass of thanksgiving was held this Saturday, April 20, 2019 at the Butembo hostel in memory of the Cameroonian epidemiologist deployed by WHO, Dr. Richard Mouzoko Kibound, who died the day before in an attack on health clinics. the Catholic University of Graben (UCG). This mass was said by the chaplain of UCG University Clinics, Father Christian Tandari, who revealed that if God reminded him of Dr. Richard Mouzoko on Good Friday, it is to show that Richard is good in Christ and like Christ as a physician, Richard gave his life for his brothers, men. The body of the deceased arrived this afternoon in Goma from which he will be repatriated to his country of origin.
                  • Dr Aruna, National Response Coordinator, on behalf of the Minister of Health, regretted this act and urged members of the national and international response not to give in to discouragement, but rather to continue their efforts until the end. at the end of this epidemic in order to honor the memory of their missing colleague.
                  • In addition, another attack took place this Saturday around 3 am in the Katwa sub-coordination office located at the Katwa Reference General Hospital. This attack was mastered by the police in Katwa and the death toll is a dead assailant and three wounded still on the side of the attackers.


                  ...
                  "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                  -Nelson Mandela

                  Comment


                  • Translation Google

                    BUTEMBO: Honored homage to the late Dr. MOUZOKO KIBOUNG

                    Posted on: 20/04/2019 at 18h01min50s
                    By Radio Moto Butembo-Beni

                    The last tributes were made this Saturday, April 20th, 2019 to the late Dr. MOUZOKO KIBOUNG Richard-Val?ry of WHO. Mass and related circumstances took place at the Hotel Auberge in Butembo.

                    This Mass was attended by agents of the response team, some curious and city authorities. The Eucharist was presided over by Father Christian TANDARI. The chaplain at Graben University Clinics was surrounded by three other priests. In his homily, Father TANDARI made it known that the late Dr. Richard is entering life.

                    "Jesus is showing us today that death does not have the last word on man. And our brother, Dr. Richard is not dead, he enters the life with Jesus rather than serving his brothers. Remember that the incident that caused the death of our brother Richard occurred yesterday. Good Friday, "said the celebrant.

                    WHO still committed to ending Ebola

                    During this Mass, several words were spoken. Among the moving speeches, let us return to that of Dr. Michel YAHO, who spoke on behalf of the World Health Organization. He promised that the agents of the response team remain committed to ending Ebola despite this loss.

                    "Were we wrong to believe in our humanity and humanitarian principles? No Richard. We made the right choice. We are proud of that alongside Richard. And Richard is a hero. On the other hand we sinners, we Butembo community, we Butembo authorities, Richard we could not protect you. We are all guilty. We who intoxicate the population, we who ignore and trampled the memory of more than 800 people died of Ebola, we are guilty, "said DOCTOR YAHO.

                    After the requiem mass, the body of the late Dr. MOUZOKO KIBOUNG Richard-Val?ry is on his way to his homeland, Cameroon. This is where the funeral is scheduled for next Saturday.

                    At 41 years old, this doctor has a shiny course. He leaves a widow and four orphans, the first of whom is 12 years old. Recall that Dr. Richard was shot dead Friday, April 19, during an attack by armed men against UCG clinics in Butembo.

                    "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                    -Nelson Mandela

                    Comment


                    • Translation Google
                      DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR DISEASE CONTROL
                      EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE PROVINCES OF NORTH KIVU AND ITURI

                      Sunday, April 21, 2019


                      The epidemiological situation of the Ebola Virus Disease dated April 20, 2019 :
                      • Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,336, of which 1,270 are confirmed and 66 are probable. In total, there were 870 deaths (804 confirmed and 66 probable) and 387 people cured.
                      • 107 suspected cases under investigation;
                      • 9 new confirmed cases, including 2 in Musienene, 1 in Katwa, 1 in Butembo, 1 in Beni, 1 in Mabalako, 1 in Mandima, 1 in Vuhovi, and 1 in an unspecified health zone;
                      • 11 new confirmed case deaths, including
                        • 4 community deaths, 2 in Musienene, 1 in Mabalako and 1 in Beni;
                          • The community death in Beni is a 10-month-old infant living in Biakato Mine, Mandima, who died on arrival at the CTE de Beni. Any death at CTE less than 24 hours after admission is also classified as a community death.
                        • 7 deaths at CTE, including 4 in Butembo, 2 in Katwa and 1 in Beni.
                      No response activities in the health zones covered by the Butembo sub-coordination on Saturday 20 April 2019 following the death of our colleague, Dr. Richard Mouzoko.



                      ...
                      TO THE MEMORY OF DR RICHARD VALERY MOUZOKO KIBOUNG
                      ...

                      "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                      -Nelson Mandela

                      Comment


                      • Translation Google

                        Ministry of Health DRC
                        @MinSanteRDC

                        /! \ No response activity against #Ebola in the health zones covered by #Butembo's sub-coordination this Saturday, April 20, 2019 following the death of our colleague Dr. Richard Mouzoko

                        10:06 AM - 21 Apr 2019
                        "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                        -Nelson Mandela

                        Comment


                        • Translation Google

                          Insecurity in BUTEMBO: the medical staff will be in the street this Wednesday, April 24


                          Posted on: 23/04/2019 at 18h00min03s
                          By Radio Moto Butembo-Beni

                          The nurses and doctors working in Butembo city are planning a peaceful march this Wednesday, April 24, 2019. Dr. KALIMA NZANZU, head of the Butembo Medical Association, explains that the purpose of this event is to encourage politico-administrative authorities to watch over the safety of the caregivers, who became the target of all the uncivic.

                          "When they start to attack us ... There are those who are beaten, attack with machete, killed. As you know, the last one he was killed by gun. It's not just Dr. Richard. There is even a nurse who was killed on the side of VUHOVI by incivists. So in the face of this situation, we no longer know how to fit in the structures. This is how we told ourselves that we are going to write a memorandum that we are handing over tomorrow at the City Hall , because the mayor is the guarantor of our safety. And for that, there is a walk that will start at 9am. All the medical staff will be in white coats and we will walk to the City Hall to file the memorandum, "said Dr. KALIMA NZANZU.

                          If nothing is done after this march, in early May, nurses and doctors working in Butembo threaten to go on a dry strike.

                          Posted on: 23/04/2019 at 18h00min03sBy Radio Moto Butembo-Beni

                          "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                          -Nelson Mandela

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                          • Translation Google
                            DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR DISEASE CONTROL
                            EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE PROVINCES OF NORTH KIVU AND ITURI

                            Tuesday 23 April 2019


                            The epidemiological situation of the Ebola Virus Disease dated 22 April 2019 :
                            • Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,353, of which 1,287 are confirmed and 66 are probable. In total, there were 880 deaths (814 confirmed and 66 probable) and 387 people healed.
                            • 68 suspected cases under investigation;
                            • 13 new confirmed cases, including 5 in Katwa, 4 in Vuhovi, 1 in Butembo, 1 in Mabalako, 1 in Masereka and 1 in Beni;
                            • 6 new deaths of confirmed cases, including
                              • 2 community deaths, including 1 in Butembo and 1 in Masereka;
                              • 4 deaths at CTE, including 3 in Butembo and 1 in Katwa.

                            / | \ 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


                            Minister of Health visits Butembo teams
                            • The Minister of Health, Dr. Oly Ilunga Kalenga, went to Butembo this Tuesday, April 23, 2019 to comfort the teams of the response after the tragic events of the Easter weekend. The teams were still in shock, so it was important for the Minister to be with them so that they know they are not alone in this event. He regretted that the unacceptable happened as teams' efforts began to bear fruit in the field. In recent weeks, there has been an increase in the number of reported alerts and greater ownership of the response by the community, which has begun to open its eyes to the danger posed by this disease. With these advances, it was then possible to hope for a reduction in the number of cases in the city of Butembo in the near future.
                            • However, the Minister of Health insisted on the importance for the teams not to give up and continue to reach out to this wounded population. He noted that several community leaders, who were so far silent, have strongly condemned the murder of Dr. Richard Mouzoko. Moreover, when he arrived in Butembo, the Minister was greeted by a delegation of customary chiefs who assured him that they were fully involved in sensitizing the population. He hopes this will further facilitate the work of the response teams.
                            • He asked the security commission to do its job to ensure the safety of all the actors involved in this response because it is not normal for a person to lose their life when they came to heal and save their lives. millions of Congolese. He reminded the teams that they have no choice but to finish off this epidemic as soon as each passing day is an extra day when officers are exposed to violence. Ending once and for all with the epidemic is also the best way to honor the memory of all the colleagues who died during this epidemic, but also of all the patients for whom the health workers fought and who did not survived the disease.


                            Vaccination
                            • Since the beginning of vaccination on August 8, 2018, 104,625 persons have been vaccinated , including 28,056 in Katwa, 22,810 in Beni, 12,656 in Butembo, 6,751 in Mabalako, 4,445 in Mandima, 3,150 in Kalunguta, 3,070 in Goma, 2,619 in Komanda, 2,569 in Oicha, 1,845 in Vuhovi, 1,774 in Masereka, 1,649 in Kyondo, 1,630 in Kayina, 1,487 in Bunia, 1,357 in Karisimbi, 1,193 in Lubero, 1,027 in Musienene, 1,025 in Biena, 772 in Mutwanga, 690 in Rutshuru, 557 in Rwampara (Ituri), 527 in Nyankunde, 496 in Mangurujipa, 420 in Mambasa, 355 in Tchomia, 333 in Lolwa, 342 in Kirotshe, 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 16 (April 15 to 21, 2019)




                            For the week of April 15 to 21, 2019, we recorded:
                            • 843 new notified alerts
                            • 1,634 suspected cases investigated and tested in the laboratory
                            • 76 new confirmed cases :
                              • Katwa remains the main focus with 35 cases (46%).
                              • A health zone has been removed from the list of zones that have notified at least one confirmed case in the last 21 days: Lubero.
                            • 60 deaths of confirmed cases :
                              • The two main foci of deaths are Katwa with 24 deaths (40%) and Butembo with 17 deaths (28.3%). Together, these two zones reported 68.3% of the total number of new deaths during the week;
                              • Of the 60 deaths, 37 were community deaths (61.6%) and 23 occurred in an ETC.
                            • 13 new people healed .

                            Minister of Health visits Katwa CTE with delegation of customary chiefs
                            ...
                            "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                            -Nelson Mandela

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                            • Translation Google

                              DRC-Ebola: Demonstration of health staff in Butembo to demand its safety

                              Wednesday, April 24, 2019 - 17:22

                              More than a hundred nurses and doctors from Butembo and around (North Kivu) demonstrated on Wednesday, April 24, in the streets to claim that their safety is guaranteed. These health professionals say they regret that they are being targeted by strangers as they contribute to the response to the Ebola virus disease that has already left hundreds dead.

                              Their angry march left from the Butembo Health Zone office, passing through the presidential boulevard, before falling to the Butembo mayor's office where they handed over to the urban authority a memorandum in which they demand security guarantees.

                              "Our security is not assured, people are attacking us, nurses and doctors, accusing us of keeping Ebola alive to kill people, and we want to say that we are not here to kill. Nurses and Doctors do not kill, but save lives. If you are asked to go to an appropriate health facility, it is for your good.The people must know that Ebola exists and that we are all victims. Among the victims, 10% are caregivers and their families. We give the authority a week to ensure safety. If this is not done, we will declare a dry strike in the first week of May", said Dr. Kalima Nzanzu, president of the local unit of the order of doctors and one of the organizers of the event.

                              Health professionals protest following killings of two of their colleagues involved in Ebola outbreak activities, including the Cameroon epidemiologist working for the World Health Organization (WHO), cowardly shot dead last Friday by armed men while he was chairing a meeting in the medical clinics of the Graben Catholic University (UCG).

                              Receiving their memorandum, the mayor of Butembo said he regretted the situation of resistance and attack currently being experienced by health professionals involved in the response.

                              "Your situation is unfortunate, while you want to save lives, you are unfortunately threatened, killed ... It challenges us, authority.We reassure you that we are committed to ensuring the safety of those involved in the response. Combine efforts to raise awareness in this community of which we are a part. [In the meantime], I do not encourage you to abandon your mission, give us a chance, an opportunity to refine strategies to ensure safety, "asked Mayor Sylvain Kanyamanda, promising to share the contents of the memorandum with his hierarchy for a solution.

                              The urban authority took advantage of this exchange with the nurses and doctors to reassure them that some suspects in the murder of Dr. Richard Mouzoko, the epidemiologist of WHO, are already arrested and will be brought to justice and a trial public will be held to do justice to "wipe the tears" of health professionals.

                              In addition, the protesters recommended that the authority organize a social dialogue with the communities to try to contain the resistance as well as the armed attacks, and to advocate for a special bonus to be allocated to the agents engaged in the response. Ebola.

                              Claude Sengenya

                              Plus d'une centaine d'infirmiers et médecins de Butembo et environs (Nord-Kivu) ont manifesté, ce mercredi 24 avril, dans les rues pour réclamer que leur sécurité soit garantie.

                              "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                              -Nelson Mandela

                              Comment


                              • The Doctor Killed In Friday's Ebola Attack Was Dedicated ? But Also Afraid

                                April 23, 201912:33 PM ET

                                NURITH AIZENMAN
                                ...
                                "One of [Mouzoko's] colleagues told me he would say, 'I'm scared in this environment,' " says the WHO's head of on-the-ground operations for the Ebola response, Dr. Michel Yao. Mouzoko had a wife and four children in Cameroon, the oldest just 12. "He would say, 'I have my kids. I need to be careful so I can go back [to them].' "
                                ...
                                Yao says the team has substantially cut back its operations, while officials assess how to keep them safe.

                                At a recent all-staff meeting, says Yao, several team members expressed openly what Mouzoko had reportedly been feeling privately ? that this work might simply have become too dangerous.

                                "It's quite tough," says Yao. "People are scared. I saw many people crying, even two, three days after [the attack]. Our colleagues are totally in shock."

                                "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                                -Nelson Mandela

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