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  • DRC - Ebola outbreak detected in western DRC, near Mbandaka, equateur province - June 1, 2020 - 128 cases, 53 deaths



    Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

    @DrTedros
    A new #Ebola outbreak detected in western #DRC, near Mbandaka, ?quateur province.
    @MinSanteRDC
    has identified 6 cases, of which 4 people have died. The country is also in final phase of battling Ebola in eastern DRC, #COVID19 & the world’s largest measles outbreak.
    9:21 AM ? Jun 1, 2020


    @DrTedros
    ?
    1h
    Replying to
    @DrTedros
    .
    @WHO
    already has staff in Mbandaka, #DRC supporting the new #Ebola outbreak response. This outbreak is a reminder that #COVID19 is not the only health threat people face. WHO is continuing to monitor & respond to many health emergencies.

  • #2
    Press review of June 2, 2020

    The resurgence of Ebola virus disease in Equateur province has occupied the pages of several Congolese media.

    The DRC is once again facing an Ebola epidemic. The announcement was made on Monday June 1 by the Minister of Public Health, reports Cas-info.ca .
    According to Eteni Longondo, samples of suspected cases declared positive by the INRB caused the virus to reappear in Mbandaka.
    “I can confirm that we have a new Ebola outbreak in Mbandaka, in the province of ex-Ecuador. This means that I myself will go there to provide technical support to the response team, ” said Eteni Longondo, whose comments are reproduced on the website.

    According to information provided by the Congolese government, notes for its part Actualite.cd , five people died in Mbandaka, the capital of Equateur province, in the northwest of the country.

    The same sources indicate that four other infected people are being taken care of. They were in contact with the confirmed confirmed cases. All are treated in an isolation unit at Wangata hospital in Mbandaka, the portal added.

    The governor of Ecuador Bobo Boloko, said, based on information received from the head of the provincial health division that the dead were recorded in the Air Congo district in the city of Mbandaka, note 7 on 7.cd.

    A meeting involving all the technical health and safety services as well as technical and financial partners was held on this.

    The governor asks the population to be calm and to observe hygiene measures, in particular washing their hands regularly with soap, not greeting each other by hands, not touching the sick and the deceased after having done fever and bleeding, for its part reports Mediacongo.net .

    "The new Ebola epidemic in Mbandaka represents a challenge, but it is one that we are ready to take up," said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, Director of the WHO Regional Office for the Africa, says Prosperity .

    Dr. Moeti recalled that the UN agency has been working for years with the Congolese Ministry of Health, the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and their partners in strengthening capacities to respond to Ebola outbreaks , adds the newspaper.

    Actu-30.info recalls that the new Ebola epidemic declared in Mbandaka is the eleventh that the Democratic Republic of Congo has known. It resurfaced after the city of Beni.
    Revue de presse du 2 juin 2020 La r?surgence de la maladie ? virus Ebola dans la province de l’Equateur occupent les pages de plusieurs m?dias congolais. La RDC fait de nouveau face ? une ?pid?mie d’Ebola. L’annonce a ?t? faite lundi 1er Juin par le ministre de la sant? publique, rapporte Cas-info.ca. Selon Eteni Longondo, les ?chantillons des cas suspects d?clar?s positifs
    ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
    Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

    ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

    Comment


    • #3
      Declaration of the eleventh epidemic of Ebola virus disease in Equateur *
      • The Minister of Health, Dr. Eteni Longodo, declared this Monday 01 June 2020 in Kinshasa the eleventh epidemic of the Ebola virus disease in Mbandaka in the province of Equateur;
      It is since May 11, 2020 that the city of Mbandaka had notified 8 cases of Hemorrhagic Fever, including 3 positive cases (2 living positive and 1 positive death), 2 suspected cases and 3 probable deaths;
      • Among the samples analyzed at the laboratory of the National Institute of Biomedical Research, the 3 which proved positive belong to the Ebola virus of the Zaire type;
      Lundi, le 01 Juin 2020 COMITE NATIONAL MULTISECTORIEL DE LA RIPOSTE A LA MALADIE A VIRUS #EBOLA SECRETARIAT ?TECHNIQUE OBJET : SITUATION ?PID?MIOLOGIQUE DANS LES PROVINCES DU NORD-KIVU ET DE L’ITURI AU 31 Mai 2020
      Last edited by Gert van der Hoek; June 2, 2020, 08:41 AM.
      ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
      Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

      ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

      Comment


      • #4
        KINSHASA, 1 June 2020 – The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has confirmed the death of five people – including one 15-year-old girl - due to Ebola in Mbandaka, the capital of ?quateur Province in the north-western part of the country.

        The deaths occurred between the 18th and 30th of May but they were only confirmed as Ebola-related yesterday.

        Four additional people who contracted the virus – all contacts of the deceased and including the child of one of the fatal cases - are being treated in an isolation unit at the Wangata Hospital in Mbandaka.
        15-year-old girl among five victims of new outbreak as country battles Ebola, COVID-19 and measles
        ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
        Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

        ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

        Comment


        • #5
          WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
          AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
          Week 22: 25 - 31 May 2020
          Data as reported by: 17:00; 31 May 2020
          ...

          A NEW EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE OUTBREAK CONFIRMED IN MBANDAKA,
          ?QUATEUR PROVINCE, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO


          6 Cases
          4,Deaths
          67% CFR


          EVENT DESCRIPTION

          On 1 June 2020, the Ministry of Health in Democratic Republic of the Congo notified WHO of a fresh outbreak of Ebola
          virus disease (EVD) in Mbandaka, ?quateur Province. The event initially involved a cluster of four deaths that occurred
          between 18 and 30 May 2020. The index case is a 27-year-old female who reportedly died in Wangata hospital on 18 May
          2020. Three other case-patients from the same community in Air Congo Quarter of Wangata fell ill and died with a similar
          illness in the subsequent days, with the last death occurring on 30 May 2020. A swab specimen was collected from the
          last deceased case-patient while no specimens were obtained from the three initial deceased case-patients. On 31 May
          2020, a health worker who attended to the initial case-patients, along with his wife, presented with symptoms and both
          have been isolated in Wangata hospital.

          The swab specimen collected from the last deceased case-patient and two blood specimens obtained from the two casepatients currently admitted tested positive for Ebola virus, Zaire Ebolavirus species, by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction at the Institut National de Recherche Biom?dicale (INRB), Kinshasa on 1 June 2020.

          As of 1 June 2020, a total of six EVD cases, including three confirmed and three probable cases have been reported. Of
          the six cases, four have died, giving a case fatality ratio of 67%. Two active cases are in admission and are being managed
          in Wangata hospital.

          Further investigations into this event are ongoing and updates will be provided as information becomes available.

          "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


          • #6
            Has anyone seen a sequence, or epidemiological link to the older outbreak, to show if this is h2h or a new zoonotic event?

            Comment


            • #7
              Posted on Thu, 06/04/2020

              The province of Equateur currently has five patients, including a woman in the city of Bikoro, 128 km from Mbandaka.

              The sick are treated at the Ebola treatment center set up in the annex of the Wangata general reference hospital.

              But two other suspected cases are under observation.


              La province de l'Equateur compte ? ce jour cinq malades dont une femme dans la cit? de Bikoro, ? 128 Km de Mbandaka. Les malades sont soign?s au centre de traitement d'Ebola ?rig? au pavillon annexe de l’h?pital g?n?ral de r?f?rence de Wangata. Mais deux autres cas suspects sont en observation. Devant ce pavillon, un fil de marquage tient les visiteurs ? distance du centre. A
              ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
              Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

              ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

              Comment


              • #8
                WHO teams arrive in Mbandaka as DRC battles fresh ebola outbreak


                The Independent June 4, 2020

                Mbandaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Nearly 50 staff from the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners have arrived in Mbandaka in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to tackle yet another outbreak of Ebola in the country.

                The responders carried 3,500 doses of Ebola vaccine and 2,000 cartridges for lab testing, according to the head of the World Health Organisation – Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “This is an important reminder that even as WHO focuses on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to monitor and respond to many other health emergencies,” he said.

                The Ebola outbreak in Mbandaka, located in Equateur province in northwest DRC – on the opposite side of the country to the worst epidemic in the country’s history that is petering out – was confirmed earlier this week. So far, eight cases have been detected, four of whom have died.

                ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
                Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

                ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

                Comment


                • #9


                  Helen Branswell

                  @HelenBranswell
                  1.
                  @WHO
                  tells me that the case count in the Mbandaka #Ebola outbreak is actually 12 (9 confirmed, 3 probable) cases & 6 deaths. Problem with the line listing (ie the report of 14 cases) has been corrected. 1 of the cases is at Bikoro, apparently

                  2. Interesting there is an #Ebola case at Bikoro, a very remote place in western DRC. Bikoro was the epicenter in the 2018 outbreak in Equateur province. Unusual to see Ebola break out in the same places a second time.
                  ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
                  Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

                  ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Mbandaka: WHO proceeds with Ebola vaccination campaign


                    Posted on Mon, 8/06/2020


                    The WHO has been carrying out Ebola vaccination since Friday June 5 in Mbandaka (Equateur).

                    This campaign takes place in 4 different sites, including 3 of these sites which are in the Air-Congo district, the current epicenter of the epidemic in the city.


                    So far, there has been a high number of Ebola cases, as well as deaths. A second site was also opened at the Wangata General Hospital. But given the enthusiasm aroused by the Air-Congo campaign, two other sites have been added, notably to the Protestant Church / 10th CDCC and to the Ipeko Health Center.

                    We note the enthusiasm of the population. At the Wangata hospital, the vaccinators give priority to the people who are most exposed such as healthcare providers, families of the victims, as well as contacts and contacts of contacts.

                    In the meantime, the mobilizers are continuing awareness-raising and others are counting the contacts of the last cases of death in the city.












                    L'OMS proc?de depuis vendredi 5 juin ? la vaccination contre le virus Ebola ? Mbandaka (Equateur). Cette campagne se d?roule dans 4 diff?rents sites, dont 3 de ces sites qui sont au quartier Air-Congo, l’?picentre actuel de l’?pid?mie dans la ville. Il y a jusque-la, le nombre ?lev? des cas d'Ebola, ainsi que des d?c?s. Un 2e site a ?t? aussi ouvert ? l’h?pital g?n?ral de
                    ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
                    Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

                    ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Up to 12 infected in Congo's new Ebola outbreak - WHO



                      KINSHASA, June 8 (Reuters) - Up to 12 people have been found infected with Ebola in a new outbreak of the deadly disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.

                      A week ago, authorities reported six infections in the northwestern city of Mbandaka, saying they appeared to be separate from another outbreak of the virus that has raged in the east since 2018.

                      There have now been nine confirmed cases and three probable cases of the disease in and around Mbandaka, the WHO said. Six of those people have died, it added.

                      The city sits on the Congo River, close to the border with the Republic of Congo.
                      Up to 12 people have been found infected with Ebola in a new outbreak of the deadly disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.
                      ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
                      Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

                      ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by JJackson View Post
                        Has anyone seen a sequence, or epidemiological link to the older outbreak, to show if this is h2h or a new zoonotic event?
                        Ebola in the DRC: the new epidemic comes "probably from an animal reservoir"

                        Posted at 11:16 a.m.

                        The new Ebola epidemic in the north-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC Check spelling ) comes " probably " from an " animal reservoir ", said on Tuesday in Geneva, the director general of World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. It is therefore not linked to the one still going on in the east of the country.

                        " The investigations are underway, " said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on social networks. But the sequencing already shows that the virus is not the same as that which was observed in 2018 in the same area, or that which caused the current epidemic in the East of the country.

                        ...
                        "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


                        • #13
                          Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin, Week 23: 01 - 07 June 2020

                          ...

                          Ebola virus disease Democratic Republic of the Congo
                          (?quateur Province)


                          12 Cases
                          6 Deaths
                          50% CFR


                          EVENT DESCRIPTION

                          On 1 June 2020, the Ministry of Health in Democratic Republic of
                          the Congo notified WHO of a fresh outbreak of Ebola virus disease
                          (EVD) in Mbandaka Health Zone, ?quateur Province. The event
                          initially involved a cluster of four deaths that occurred between 18
                          and 30 May 2020. The index case was a 27-year-old female who
                          presented to Wangata hospital on 18 May 2020 and died on 22 May
                          2020. Three other case-patients from the same community in Air
                          Congo Quarter of Wangata, Mbandaka Health Zone fell ill and died
                          with similar illness. Blood samples obtained from three of the case
                          patients turned positive for Ebola virus, Zaire ebolavirus species,
                          by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at the
                          Institute National de Recherche Biom?dicale (INRB), Kinshasa on 1
                          June 2020.

                          On 31 May 2020, the nurse who attended to the initial case-patients,
                          along with his wife, presented with symptoms, and both have been
                          isolated in Wangata hospital and are under investigation.

                          As of 6 June 2020, a total of 12 cases (9 confirmed and 3 probable)
                          with six deaths, three in confirmed cases (case fatality ratio 50.0%)
                          have been reported in three affected health zones: Bikoro (1
                          confirmed; 1 death), Mbandaka (6 confirmed, 3 probable; 1 death)
                          and Wangata (2 confirmed; 1 death). The case fatality ratio among
                          confirmed cases is 33.3% (3 deaths/9 confirmed cases). Two health
                          workers are among the confirmed cases since the start of the
                          outbreak, 18.2% of all cases.

                          The health zones reporting confirmed and probable cases since the
                          start of the outbreak are Bikoro (1 health area affected), Mbandaka
                          (3 health areas affected) and Wangata (2 health area affected).
                          Thirteen new contacts were recorded as of 5 June 2020, all from
                          Wangata Health Zone, bringing the total number of contacts under
                          follow-up to 178, of whom a total of 150 were seen in the past 24
                          hours. Only one contact is suspected of being a possible infection.
                          Five alerts, of which one was new, were registered on 5 June 2020;
                          three (60%) were investigated and validated.

                          PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

                          On 5 June 2020, the national Minister of Health, as well as
                          WHO and UNICEF country representatives carried out a working
                          mission to Mbandaka.

                          A total of 12 650 screenings of travellers were carried out at 11
                          out of 16 points of control (PoC), 69% of the total.
                          Two alerts were notified and reported to the surveillance
                          commission and teams continued to evaluate the PoCs.

                          On 5 June 2020, five samples, (4 blood samples and 1 swab)
                          were received by the laboratory, with three blood samples and
                          the swab analysed; none were positive for Ebola virus.

                          Vaccination with rVSV-ZEBOV-GP started on 5 June 2020; 100
                          people, including 98 first line providers and two contacts of
                          contacts were vaccinated. In addition, 25 local providers were
                          briefed in order to reinforce the vaccination teams.

                          There were no new admissions of suspected or confirmed
                          patients on 5 June 2020. Four patients are admitted to the Ebola
                          treatment centre (ETC) in Wangata, 2 confirmed and 2 suspected
                          cases. An additional suspected case is being treated at the
                          regional hospital in Wangata.

                          Three confirmed cases are reluctant to be transferred to the
                          ETC and remain in the community. The communication and
                          psychosocial care commissions are continuing to negotiate with
                          them and the community in order to facilitate their transfer to
                          the ETC.

                          Psychosocial support was provided to the four cases in the ETC
                          in Wangata as well as their families and friends, with teams
                          providing psycho-educational sessions for the families of
                          suspected cases resistant to investigation.

                          Four health facilities, as well as three households identified
                          around the first cases were decontaminated on 5 June 2020, and
                          two teams of hygienists were provided to the Mbandaka Health
                          Zone; a risk assessment around exposure of health providers
                          was carried out.

                          Risk communication, mobilization and community engagement
                          is being carried out, with 300 posters placed in Mbandaka town,
                          and in the four health areas of Bolenge Health Zone.

                          A road map with a statement of needs has been developed, and
                          a rapid anthropological survey is underway in the Air Congo
                          district, Ipeko health area in the Mbandak Health Zone to guide
                          sensitization activities to overcome community resistance to
                          response activities.

                          The security situation has remained relatively calm.

                          SITUATION INTERPRETATION

                          This new outbreak of EVD comes in the context of a country already
                          burdened with a long-standing EVD outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri,
                          the COVID-19 outbreak (affecting mainly Kinshasa), an ongoing measles
                          outbreak and a complex humanitarian crisis. Mbandaka is a large town
                          with a population of 1.2 million people with air and river links to Kinshasa
                          and Boende, increasing the risk of localised spread. The risk of disruption
                          to surveillance and routine public health activities as a result of the
                          COVID-19 response will potentially harm the country’s ability to rapidly
                          contain the re-emergence of EVD. Public health measures, particularly
                          a strong and robust surveillance system, required to detect, isolate and
                          treat new suspected cases as early as possible is required to break any
                          new chains of transmission, along with full community engagement with
                          response measures.


                          "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


                          • #14
                            Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/...112609457.html


                            17 infected, 11 dead in new Ebola outbreak in DR Congo
                            Announcement comes as the African nation battles to control a measles epidemic and the spread of coronavirus.
                            4 hours ago

                            The Democratic Republic of the Congo has recorded 17 Ebola cases in a new outbreak of the deadly virus in the western province of Equateur and 11 of those infected have died, health officials said on Monday.

                            Authorities reported 12 infections last week in the central African country, whose dilapidated health system is also combating a measles epidemic that has killed more than 6,000 people and COVID-19, which has infected about 4,800 and killed 112...

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
                              AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
                              Week 24: 8 - 14 June 2020
                              Data as reported by: 17:00; 14 June 2020
                              ...

                              Ebola virus disease Democratic Republic of the Congo

                              (?quateur Province)


                              17 Cases
                              11 Deaths
                              64.7% CFR


                              EVENT DESCRIPTION

                              The Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in ?quateur Province,
                              Democratic Republic of the Congo, continues to evolve. Since our last
                              report (Weekly Bulletin 23), five additional confirmed EVD cases and five
                              deaths have been reported. Two new health zones, Bolomba and Iboko,
                              reported confirmed EVD cases during the reporting period – bringing the
                              number of affected health zones to five. As of 13 June 2020, a total of
                              17 EVD cases (14 confirmed and three probable) with 11 deaths (case
                              fatality ratio 64.7%) have been reported in five health zones: Mbandaka
                              (6 confirmed, 3 probable, 7 deaths), Bikoro (3 confirmed, 3 deaths),
                              Wangata (2 confirmed, 1 death), Bolomba (2 confirmed) and Iboko (1
                              confirmed). The case fatality ratio among confirmed cases is 57.1%
                              (8 deaths/14 confirmed cases). Two health workers are among the
                              confirmed cases since the start of the outbreak, 11.8% of all cases.

                              Iboko Health Zone, the newly affected health zone that reported
                              confirmed EVD case on 12 June 2020, is 240 km from Mbandaka.
                              The confirmed case-patient was not a listed contact and has not
                              been vaccinated. Preliminary investigations show that he lives in Air
                              Congo, in the Mbandaka Health Zone, which is currently affected by the
                              outbreak. Additionally, the only surviving case from the Bikoro Health
                              Zone died on 12 June 2020. As of 13 June 2020, nine health areas in
                              affected health zones have reported cases, including two in Bikoro, one
                              in Bolomba, one in Iboko, three in Mbandaka and two in Wangata.

                              A total of 49 new contacts were recorded as of 13 June 2020, with 47 in
                              Mbandaka and two in Wangata. There are 923 contacts under follow-up,
                              of which 639 (69.2%) have been seen in the past 24 hours. On 13 June
                              2020, 21 alerts with one death were reported. Of these 20 (95.2%) were
                              investigated and four (20.0%) were validated as new suspected cases.

                              PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

                              The Representative of the Special Assistant to the Secretary General
                              of the United Nations, the Resident Coordinator and the Humanitarian
                              Affairs Coordinator carried out a working mission to Mbandaka on
                              12 June 2020, in order to see what response was needed on the
                              ground.

                              A multidisciplinary group covering all response pillars was deployed
                              to Bolomoba, 250 km from Mbandaka on 12 June 2020.

                              On 13 June 2020, 6 384 travellers were screened among the 5 780
                              registered at the 14/16 active PoCs that reported. Since the start of
                              the response, a total of 134 569 screenings of travellers were carried
                              out among 140 360 travellers registered at the active PoCs.

                              A screening tent was installed in the port of Onatra on 13 June 2020.

                              As of 13 June 2020, seven samples were received in the Mbandaka
                              laboratory, of which five were tested; none were positive for Ebola
                              virus. Since the start of the response, 77 samples have been tested.

                              A total of 200 people, including 80 in Mbandaka, 40 in Wangata, 40
                              in Bikoro and 40 in Bolomba were vaccinated with rVSV-ZEBOV-GP
                              on 13 June 2020.

                              Since 5 June 2020, a total of 2 514 people have been vaccinated,
                              including 806 contacts, 1 574 contacts of contacts and 134 probable
                              contacts. There are six vaccination rings, with four in Mbandaka, one
                              in Bikoro and one in Bolomba.

                              One confirmed case was admitted to the Wangata ETC, with
                              two suspected cases under observation in the transit centre at
                              Mbankanda General Referral Hospital. Negotiations are ongoing to
                              transfer the remaining two confirmed cases in the community and to
                              transfer the case newly confirmed on 12 June 2020 to an isolation
                              facility.

                              The two confirmed cases in Bolomba remain isolated at the reference
                              hospital in Bolomba, while the confirmed case in Iboko is being
                              cared for at the Itipo reference health centre in the Iboko Health Zone.

                              Training modules for ETC staff have been finalised, and 27 health
                              workers in Bolombo Health Zone were briefed on EVD prevention
                              measures and the use of personal protective equipment.

                              Infection prevention and control measures continue with IPC
                              assessments of health facilities in the health areas of Mbandaka Health
                              Zone; an IPC team travelled to Iboko Health Zone to decontaminate
                              the health facility after confirmation of a case, along with briefing five
                              hygienists and Red Cross volunteers in the same visit. IPC activities
                              were carried out in the Bolomba Health Zone.

                              To date 40 leaders of associations in the Bolenge, Mbandaka and
                              Wangata health zones have been made aware of EVD prevention
                              measures, with leaflets distributed; 50 households in the Libiki health
                              area, Mbandaka Health Zone were sensitized on EVD prevention,
                              with the commission providing support to the communication teams
                              in the various active health zones.

                              The security situation remains relatively calm with the exception of
                              some isolated cases of resistance to response interventions.

                              SITUATION INTERPRETATION

                              This new outbreak of EVD comes in the context of a country already
                              burdened with a long-standing EVD outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri, the
                              COVID-19 outbreak (affecting mainly Kinshasa), an ongoing measles
                              outbreak and a complex humanitarian crisis. Mbandaka is a large town with
                              a population of 1.2 million people with air and river links to Kinshasa and
                              Boende, and there has already been local spread to Bolomoba, which is 240
                              km away. In addition, there are already isolated incidences of resistance
                              to response, which leads to disruption of case finding, contact tracing
                              and follow-up, in particular. The risk of disruption to surveillance and
                              routine public health activities as a result of the COVID-19 response will
                              potentially harm the country’s ability to rapidly contain the re-emergence of
                              EVD. Public health measures, particularly a strong and robust surveillance
                              system, required to detect, isolate and treat new suspected cases as early
                              as possible is required to break any new chains of transmission, along with
                              full community engagement with response measures.

                              "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

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