WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 33: 10 - 16 August 2020
Data as reported by: 17:00; 16 August 2020
...
Ebola virus disease
Democratic Republic of the Congo
(?quateur Province)
88 Cases
36 Deaths
40.9% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
The Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in ?quateur Province, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, continues to see rising numbers of confirmed
cases and geographical spread, with 30 health areas in 10 health zones
affected. Since our last report (Weekly Bulletin 32), another nine additional
confirmed EVD cases have been reported, and three new deaths. As of
15 August 2020 no new confirmed cases have been detected for the
second consecutive day, with no new deaths among confirmed cases. The
health area of Lyembe Moke in Bikoro Health Zone, Bosomondomba in
Bolomba Health Zone and Butela in Iboko Health Zone have not reported
new confirmed cases for 42 days, with the last confirmed case reported
on 4 July 2020.
As of 15 August 2020, there are a total of 88 cases (84 confirmed and four
probable) including 36 deaths (case fatality ratio 41.8%). The case fatality
ratio among confirmed cases is 38.1% (32 deaths/84 confirmed cases).
The number of health workers affected remains at three, making up 3.4%
of all cases. The number of health areas that have reported at least one
confirmed or probable case of EVD since the start of this outbreak has
risen to 30, in 10 of the 18 health zones in the province. In the past 21 days
(26 July to 15 August 2020), 21 confirmed cases have been reported in 14
health areas across eight health zones.
No new contacts were listed on 15 August 2020 out of the four out of
eight health zones reporting. contacts, with seven new contacts listed all
from the Bolomoba Health Zone as of 8 August 2020. Lolanga Mampoko
and Mbandaka did not transmit contact data. Of 3 327 active contacts
listed, 3 160 (95%) were followed-up. Of the 60 unseen contacts for whom
information was available, eight (13.3%) had never been seen, five (8.3%)
were lost to follow-up and the remaining 47 (78.4%) had not been seen in
the previous 24 hours. To date, no contacts have completed their follow-up
period, while 24 have become symptomatic, including 19 in Bikoro, three
in Ingende and two in Lotumbe. A total of 394 new alerts were raised on
15 August 2020, with most (229; 58.1%) in Bikoro (n=133) and Bolomba
(n=96). Only five out of the 10 affected health zones reported data,
including Mbandaka, which usually reports the most daily alerts. A total of
422 alerts were reported on 15 August 2020, of which 376 (89.1%) were
investigated and 120 (31.9%) were validated, with 71 (59.2%) sampled.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
A strike of response providers is underway in the health zones of
Bolenge, Mbandaka and Wangata in the city of Mbandaka.
On 15 August 2020, all 33/40 active PoCs reported. A total of 19 600
travellers passed through these PoCs and 16 17 048 (87%) were
screened. Since the start of the response activities, 614 887 (91.3%)
screenings have been performed among the 673 145 travellers who
have passed through the active PoCs. Out of these 71 alerts have been
detected, with 37 validated.
As of 15 August 2020, 246 samples were received in operational
laboratories; 96 in Bikoro, 69 in Mbandaka, 54 in Itipo and 27 in
Bolomba. Since the start of the outbreak a total of 3 618 samples have
been tested.
A total of 170 new people were vaccinated with rVSV-ZEBOV-GP on 15
August 2020, including 22 high risk contacts, 143 contacts of contacts
and five probable contacts.
Since 5 June 2020, a total of 22 468 people has been vaccinated.
A total of 117 patients, including 10 confirmed patients were managed
in the transit centres and Ebola treatment centres in affected areas as
of 15 August 2020, with bed occupancy at 59.9% among suspected
cases and 22.7% among confirmed cases. The treatment centres in
Ikoko Bonginda and Ingende are over-capacity.
A total of 15 patients have recieved specific EVD treatment since the
start of this outbreak, with six (including on death) in Wangata, three
in Bolomoba and two each in Bikoro, Ingende and Lilanga Bobangi.
Five confirmed cases of EVD remain in the community, including three
in Lotumbe and one each in Bikoro and Mbandaka.
Thirteen alerts of community deaths have been received to date, but
only five safe and dignified burials could be conducted; in Lobumbe
Health Zone none of the six alerts received could be processed due to
lack of transport.
As of 15 August 2020, infection prevention and control (IPC) monitoring
and support was provided at the Bolomba Home Base, as well as in
two health facilities; prevention kits were distributed in Bikoro at the
national primary school leaving test centre and in the state examination
centres in Bikoro; additionally, nine households and one health facility
were decontaminated in the Monieka and Lotumbe health zones.
Risk communication, mobilization and community engagement
continues, with 15 members of community action cells briefed on
EVD prevention measures, with a public awareness communication
on barrier measures against EVD and COVID-19 distributed at various
churches and religious centres; a total of 4 392 households have been
sensitized in affected areas.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
The EVD outbreak in ?quateur Province continues to rise in case numbers and
spread to new geographical areas, although Bikoro, Bolomba and Ibiko health
zones have not reported any new confirmed cases for 42 days. Challenges
include, insufficient funds for the response, along with too few people
qualified in risk communication and community engagement, particularly in
hotspot areas. Community resistance continues, specifically to sampling and
general response measures and some travellers refusing screening at health
checkpoints, partly because of poor security support and congestion at these
points. Further actions are required to limit spread to other areas, along with
intense community engagement with community leaders to prevent resistance
to response activities and ensure that communities become fully engaged in
response activities. Partners need urgently to address the issue of insufficient
funds being available for response, particularly with the concentration of
response efforts to COVID-19. It is vital to ensure that COVID-19 response
actions do not detract from the response required for EVD.
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 33: 10 - 16 August 2020
Data as reported by: 17:00; 16 August 2020
...
Ebola virus disease
Democratic Republic of the Congo
(?quateur Province)
88 Cases
36 Deaths
40.9% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
The Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in ?quateur Province, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, continues to see rising numbers of confirmed
cases and geographical spread, with 30 health areas in 10 health zones
affected. Since our last report (Weekly Bulletin 32), another nine additional
confirmed EVD cases have been reported, and three new deaths. As of
15 August 2020 no new confirmed cases have been detected for the
second consecutive day, with no new deaths among confirmed cases. The
health area of Lyembe Moke in Bikoro Health Zone, Bosomondomba in
Bolomba Health Zone and Butela in Iboko Health Zone have not reported
new confirmed cases for 42 days, with the last confirmed case reported
on 4 July 2020.
As of 15 August 2020, there are a total of 88 cases (84 confirmed and four
probable) including 36 deaths (case fatality ratio 41.8%). The case fatality
ratio among confirmed cases is 38.1% (32 deaths/84 confirmed cases).
The number of health workers affected remains at three, making up 3.4%
of all cases. The number of health areas that have reported at least one
confirmed or probable case of EVD since the start of this outbreak has
risen to 30, in 10 of the 18 health zones in the province. In the past 21 days
(26 July to 15 August 2020), 21 confirmed cases have been reported in 14
health areas across eight health zones.
No new contacts were listed on 15 August 2020 out of the four out of
eight health zones reporting. contacts, with seven new contacts listed all
from the Bolomoba Health Zone as of 8 August 2020. Lolanga Mampoko
and Mbandaka did not transmit contact data. Of 3 327 active contacts
listed, 3 160 (95%) were followed-up. Of the 60 unseen contacts for whom
information was available, eight (13.3%) had never been seen, five (8.3%)
were lost to follow-up and the remaining 47 (78.4%) had not been seen in
the previous 24 hours. To date, no contacts have completed their follow-up
period, while 24 have become symptomatic, including 19 in Bikoro, three
in Ingende and two in Lotumbe. A total of 394 new alerts were raised on
15 August 2020, with most (229; 58.1%) in Bikoro (n=133) and Bolomba
(n=96). Only five out of the 10 affected health zones reported data,
including Mbandaka, which usually reports the most daily alerts. A total of
422 alerts were reported on 15 August 2020, of which 376 (89.1%) were
investigated and 120 (31.9%) were validated, with 71 (59.2%) sampled.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
A strike of response providers is underway in the health zones of
Bolenge, Mbandaka and Wangata in the city of Mbandaka.
On 15 August 2020, all 33/40 active PoCs reported. A total of 19 600
travellers passed through these PoCs and 16 17 048 (87%) were
screened. Since the start of the response activities, 614 887 (91.3%)
screenings have been performed among the 673 145 travellers who
have passed through the active PoCs. Out of these 71 alerts have been
detected, with 37 validated.
As of 15 August 2020, 246 samples were received in operational
laboratories; 96 in Bikoro, 69 in Mbandaka, 54 in Itipo and 27 in
Bolomba. Since the start of the outbreak a total of 3 618 samples have
been tested.
A total of 170 new people were vaccinated with rVSV-ZEBOV-GP on 15
August 2020, including 22 high risk contacts, 143 contacts of contacts
and five probable contacts.
Since 5 June 2020, a total of 22 468 people has been vaccinated.
A total of 117 patients, including 10 confirmed patients were managed
in the transit centres and Ebola treatment centres in affected areas as
of 15 August 2020, with bed occupancy at 59.9% among suspected
cases and 22.7% among confirmed cases. The treatment centres in
Ikoko Bonginda and Ingende are over-capacity.
A total of 15 patients have recieved specific EVD treatment since the
start of this outbreak, with six (including on death) in Wangata, three
in Bolomoba and two each in Bikoro, Ingende and Lilanga Bobangi.
Five confirmed cases of EVD remain in the community, including three
in Lotumbe and one each in Bikoro and Mbandaka.
Thirteen alerts of community deaths have been received to date, but
only five safe and dignified burials could be conducted; in Lobumbe
Health Zone none of the six alerts received could be processed due to
lack of transport.
As of 15 August 2020, infection prevention and control (IPC) monitoring
and support was provided at the Bolomba Home Base, as well as in
two health facilities; prevention kits were distributed in Bikoro at the
national primary school leaving test centre and in the state examination
centres in Bikoro; additionally, nine households and one health facility
were decontaminated in the Monieka and Lotumbe health zones.
Risk communication, mobilization and community engagement
continues, with 15 members of community action cells briefed on
EVD prevention measures, with a public awareness communication
on barrier measures against EVD and COVID-19 distributed at various
churches and religious centres; a total of 4 392 households have been
sensitized in affected areas.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
The EVD outbreak in ?quateur Province continues to rise in case numbers and
spread to new geographical areas, although Bikoro, Bolomba and Ibiko health
zones have not reported any new confirmed cases for 42 days. Challenges
include, insufficient funds for the response, along with too few people
qualified in risk communication and community engagement, particularly in
hotspot areas. Community resistance continues, specifically to sampling and
general response measures and some travellers refusing screening at health
checkpoints, partly because of poor security support and congestion at these
points. Further actions are required to limit spread to other areas, along with
intense community engagement with community leaders to prevent resistance
to response activities and ensure that communities become fully engaged in
response activities. Partners need urgently to address the issue of insufficient
funds being available for response, particularly with the concentration of
response efforts to COVID-19. It is vital to ensure that COVID-19 response
actions do not detract from the response required for EVD.
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