DRC declares new Ebola outbreak in Mbandaka, province of Equateur (April 23, 2022) - Outbreak is over

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 20: 9 – 15 May 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 15 May 2022
...

Ebola Virus Disease Democratic Republic of the Congo

3 cases
3 Deaths
100% CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

There was no new confirmed case of Ebola virus disease (EVD)
reported in the DRC in the past week. The last confirmed case
was notified on 4 May 2022. However, the EVD outbreak is still
confined to the Mbandaka Health Zone, one of the three health
zones of Mbandaka City in Equateur Province. Only two (13.3%)
health areas of Libiki and Motema Pembe out of the 15 for
Mbandaka health zone are affected.

As of 15 May 2022, a total of three confirmed cases with three
deaths (case fatality ratio 100%) have been reported. Among
the cases, two are males and one is female. Libiki Health Area
has reported two cases while there is one from Motema Pembe
Health Area.

As of 15 May 2022, 295 contacts have been identified and are
under follow-up. A total of 186 alerts have been notified and
176 (94.6%) investigated of which 26 (14.7%) were validated
as suspected cases of EVD from which 23 samples have been
collected. Of all 186 alerts, 33 are from active case finding, 78
from health facilities, 67 from the community, four from Pointsof-entry.
Of 258 samples collected and tested since the onset of the
outbreak, three were confirmed positive for EVD.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

Public health response activities continue to be coordinated
by the Provincial Health Division with technical and
operational support from the national Ministry of Health,
WHO, and partners.

Surveillance activities continue with the reporting and
investigation of alerts as well as tracing and follow-up of
contacts of confirmed cases.

Vaccination activities, which started since 27 April 2022,
continue using the ‘ring vaccination’ strategy targeting
contacts and contacts-of-contacts. A total of 733 persons
have been vaccinated as of 15 May 2022. These include
439 frontline health workers. Functional ultra-cold chain is
in place with 2 336 doses in stock (1200 in Kinshasa, 730
doses in Mbandaka and 406 in Goma).

As of 15 May 2022, two suspected patients are treated at
Wangata Ebola Treatment Center. In addition, seven suspects
are isolated in health facilities of the Bolenge health zone (3)
and Wangata (4).

Infection prevention and control (IPC) activities are being
implemented with provision of kits to health facilities,
training of healthcare workers, and construction of IPC
infrastructures in targeted facilities in the affected areas.

Risk communication and community engagement activities
for compliance to vaccination uptake and adherence to
contact tracing measures continue with 5 567 households in
the three health zones of Mbandaka City reached

Messaging on preventive measures against EVD and sexual
exploitation and abuse continue to be disseminated through
local community radio stations.

Psychosocial support continued to be offered to unvaccinated
contacts, orphans, members of the deceased family, and
suspected cases.

Screening of travelers continued at 16 points-of-entry
established in the city of Mbandaka. Over 74 414 (90.5%)
were screened among the 82 252 travelers who had been
registered.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

Almost two weeks have passed since the last EVD case was
reported in the DRC. It is likely that the rapid public health
response mounted by the government with support from WHO
and partners is paying off to swiftly control this outbreak. However,
challenges around vaccine hesitancy among the population,
infection prevention and control infrastructure and compliance,
and financial resources to maintain response efforts remain of
concern. Health workers are also racing against time to identify
the source of infection of this outbreak which remains crucial for
a longer-term control of the disease. It is important that these
identified challenges and gaps are quickly addressed to prevent
any potential resurgence or spread of the outbreak.

View/Open

OEW20-0915052022.pdf (1.913Mb)

https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/354389

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/ebola-fa...rain-1.1767953


13h ago
Ebola Fatalities in Congo Raise Concern of More Virulent Strain
Antony Sguazzin and Janice Kew, Bloomberg News

(Bloomberg) -- The strain of Ebola virus that killed all three people known to have caught it in the Democratic Republic of Congo since April may be more virulent, according to a nonprofit group that runs three treatment centers there.

An acute loss of blood was the first symptom observed in all three patients reported in Congo’s remote northwestern province of Equateur, said Baweye Mayoum Barka, the incoming head of mission in the country for the Alliance for International Medical Actions. That’s unlike cases seen during the previous two outbreaks there in which most began with fever or fatigue and only about 15% of patients hemorrhaged, he said.

Genetic sequencing of the virus responsible for the latest outbreak indicate it’s unlike the strain that sparked larger epidemics in 2018 and 2020, Mayoum Barka said. Those outbreaks sickened about 180 people, according to the World Health Organization.

Almost 300 people who’d been in contact with the latest cases are being monitored for infection, the WHO’s Africa Region office said Tuesday. The first patient, a 31-year-old man, developed symptoms on April 5 and died 16 days later at a treatment center in the city of Mbandaka. Only two additional cases have been confirmed, suggesting the strain is less transmissible, Mayoum Barka said.

“It seems that, while the reproductive rate is quite low, the virulence of the virus is very high,” he said in an interview Wednesday...

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Translation Google

Ebola in Mbandaka: death of a 4th confirmed case

Published on Fri, 20/05/2022 - 20:42 | Modified on Fri, 20/05/2022 - 20:42


The fourth confirmed case of the Ebola virus disease died on Friday May 20 in Mbandaka. This is the fourth recorded since the outbreak of the epidemic on April 21. He was discovered on Thursday in the Maman Balako health area, Wangata health zone and commune.

Only 24 hours after his discovery, the patient died, after having dragged around the community for a long time without proper care.

Medical sources claim that the victim was a 12-year-old child in the Maman Balako health area. Since May 14, he had been developing symptoms of Ebola, including fever, fatigue, blackish vomit.

For five days, he was cared for at home, until Thursday, May 19; date on which he was taken to a medical center in the Mbandaka II district. The results of the analysis of the samples taken on the same day from the child were found to be positive for the Ebola virus disease.

But the family resisted and brought the child home on Thursday evening, where he passed away on Friday morning.

Sources add that another 9-year-old child died with the same symptoms, in the same neighborhood, on May 6 and buried, without post-mortem collection or a dignified and secure burial. This raises fears of a multiplication of cases.

The response teams are preparing for the decontamination of different places, through which the deceased child passed. They seek the cooperation of the populations around the case and in the health area concerned.

They also invite the inhabitants to appropriate all the preventive measures recently enacted by the provincial authority, in order to avoid a large-scale spread of the disease. Among these measures, there is a compulsory post-mortem sample before any burial of bodies in the city.

https://www.radiookapi.net/2022/05/2...e-cas-confirme

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

Translation Google

WHO DRC
@OMSRDCONGO

#DRC health authorities confirmed a 4th case of #Ebola on May 19, 2022. The patient, a 12-year-old boy living in Wangata, died on Friday. @WHO continues to support the Ministry of Health, Hygiene and Prevention in the response to the epidemic in #Mbandaka . 🇨🇩



12:07 AM · May 21, 2022 from World Health Organization - Regional Office for Africa·Twitter for Android

https://twitter.com/OMSRDCONGO/status/1527893947015745537

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Translation Google

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Information note – Ebola virus disease outbreak in Ecuador
May 21, 2022, report #2
OCHA


FIGURES AND HIGHLIGHTS
• A new confirmed case in Wangata Health Zone

STATISTICS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE EPIDEMIC
4 confirmed cases
4 confirmed deaths
3 health areas affected, spread over two Health Zones
139 contact cases to follow
959 people vaccinated

OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION
A new positive case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) was reported on May 19 in the Maman Balako health area in Wangata Health Zone. It is a 12-year-old child who died on May 20. Since the declaration of the epidemic on April 23, four people have been infected with the disease, and have died. Three health areas are thus affected by the epidemic, in particular Libiki and Motema Pembe in the Mbandaka Health Zone, as well as Maman Balako in the Wangata Health Zone. Currently, 139 contacts are under surveillance. The response teams continue to list and contact tracing around the new case.

Response partners are building on lessons learned and good practices from previous EVD responses to control the outbreak and prevent its spread beyond affected and priority health zones, despite being face with several challenges, including community mistrust.

Health: Surveillance, medical and nutritional care, laboratory and vaccination

Epidemic surveillance activities are carried out by teams from the Ministry of Health, supported by WHO. The latter has deployed epidemiologists and other experts in the field to support local teams to strengthen surveillance. In the implementation of the monitoring strategy, the emphasis is on an integrated approach (protective equipment individual /surveillance, vaccination, infection prevention and control, engagement community) at the level of the health areas, in order to improve the investigation of cases, the alerts, contact tracing, active case finding in health facilities and vaccination contacts. To date, less than 40% of contacts are vaccinated. There is a need to strengthen the community sensitization around contact vaccination activities.
...
https://www.humanitarianresponse.inf..._lepidemie_deb ola_en_equateur.pdf


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

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
EQUATOR PROVINCE
DISEASE A OUTBREAK SITUATION REPORT
EBOLA VIRUS

Publication date: May 21, 2022
Data reported: May 20, 2022

I. HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY FIGURES

Key figures
Highlights
• Death of the case confirmed during the day of 05/20/2022;
• Two (2) HZs are affected (Mbandaka and Wangata) among the 3 in the city of Mbandaka.
• Cumulative cases: 5 including 4 confirmed cases and 1 probable case
• Number of contacts being followed up: 139
• Number of health zones affected: 2
• Number of AS affected: 3
• Accumulated persons vaccinated: 959 (657 PPL)
• Accumulated samples analyzed: 360 (15 re-samples)

UPDATE OF THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION

No new confirmed case has been reported as of 20/05/2022: On the other hand, the case
confirmed on 05/19/2022 died today;

In addition, the 9-year-old boy who died on 06/05/2022 was validated as a probable case.
by the multidisciplinary team in charge of the investigations with the approval of the other experts
techniques ;

Thus, the cumulative number of cases amounts to 5 including 4 confirmed cases (3 male and 1 male).
female) and 1 probable case (male);

The overall lethality is 100.0% (4/4);

Three health areas are affected, including 2 in the HZ of Mbandaka (Libiki and Motema Pembe)
and 1 in ZS Wangata (Maman Balako).
...
Contact tracing

On 20/05/2022, 72 new contacts were listed in the ZS of Wangata. In total, 139
contacts are being followed up, 90 (64.7%) of them have been seen in the last 24
hours (Table II).
...
Medical and nutritional support

As of 05/20/2022, 5 suspected patients are being treated, including 3 at CTE Wangata and 2 at
CI Bolenge (Table III). The occupancy rate among suspects is 31.3% (5/16 beds).
It should be noted that 4 other patients are isolated in the ESS, including 3 in the ZS of Wangata
and 1 in the ZS of Bolenge.
...
Insufficient resources for a holistic response;

Risk of spread due to the intense movement of the population between Kinshasa, Tshopo,
Mongala and neighboring countries (Republic of Congo and Central African Republic);
Finalize the investigations in order to establish the source of contamination of the index case;
...

https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/sitrep_mve_n027_20052022_equateur_vf.pdf

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 21: 16 – 22 May 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 22 May 2022
...

Ebola Virus Disease Democratic Republic of the Congo

5 cases
5 Deaths
100% CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The ongoing Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to evolve with two new
cases (one confirmed and one probable) reported in the week
ending 22 May 2022. The new cases follow almost 14 days
without a reported case of EVD and brings to two the number of
health zones affected in the Equateur Province.

The confirmed case is a 12-year-old male, detected on 19 May
2022 in Mama Balako Health Area, Wangata Health Zone in
Mbandaka City, Equateur Province. The case was not a known
contact prior to detection and had no history of vaccination against
Ebola. He escaped isolation at a local health centre and returned
to the community where he died on 20 May 2022. Burial of the
deceased was reportedly conducted by the community members
on 21 May 2022 without adherence to infection prevention and
control precautions and supervision of the Ebola response team
due to community resistance. Further investigation revealed that
the deceased case-patient resided in the same vicinity of a nineyear-old
boy who died on 6 May 2022 after presenting signs and
symptoms of fever, physical asthenia, vomiting, abdominal pain,
and bleeding from injection site. The nine-year-old deceased was
reportedly buried on 7 May 2022 by community members after
resisting investigation from the Ebola response team.

The nine-year-old boy who died in the same vicinity, Mama Balako
Health Area, as the fourth confirmed case has been reclassified
as a probable case after retrospective investigation revealed that
he presented with signs and symptoms typical of Ebola virus
disease prior to his death. The investigation also retrospectively
established a link to the third confirmed case reported on 4 May
2022 from Motema Pemba Health Area.

As of 22 May 2022, a total of five cases (four confirmed and one
probable) have been reported from the Democratic Republic of
the Congo. Three health areas across two health zones - Libiki
and Motema Pembe Health Areas in Mbandaka Health Zone
and Mama Balako Health Area in Wangata Health Zone have
been affected. Mbandaka Health Zone has reported three cases
(60.0%) while Wangata Health Zone has reported two case
(40.0%). Among the five cases reported, four are males and one
is female. All the reported cases are epidemiologically linked.
A total of 383 contacts are currently being followed and 221
alerts reported on 22 May 2022 including five community deaths.
Of the 221 alerts, 34 are from active case finding, 109 from health
facilities, 66 from the community, eight from points or entry and
0 from contact tracing.

Of 397 samples collected and tested since the onset of the
outbreak, four were confirmed positive for EVD.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

Public health response activities continue to be coordinated
by the Provincial Health Division with technical and
operational support from the national Ministry of Health,
WHO, and partners.

Surveillance activities continue with the reporting and
investigation of alerts as well as tracing and follow-up of
contacts of confirmed cases.

A total of 1 073 persons have been vaccinated as of 22
May 2022. These include 702 frontline health workers. A
functional ultra-cold chain is in place with 1 999 doses in
stock (1 200 in Kinshasa, 799 doses in Mbandaka).

As of 22 May 2022, three suspected patients are treated at
the Ebola Treatment Center. In addition, four suspects are
isolated in health facilities in Bolenge (2) and Wangata Health
Zones (2).

Infection prevention and control (IPC) activities continue to
be implemented especially around the last confirmed case
with decontamination of the health facility, provision of
kits to health facilities, training of healthcare workers, risk
assessment of frontline health workers, and IPC scorecard
assessment for health facilities.

Risk communication and community engagement activities
for compliance to vaccination uptake, adherence to contact
tracing measures and prevention measures continue. The
Governor of Equateur province visited the family of the last
confirmed case to advocate for acceptance and adherence
to public health measures including uptake of vaccination.
Twenty-nine high-risk contacts among the family members
were vaccinated as a result of the intervention.

Messaging on preventive measures against EVD and sexual
exploitation and abuse continue to be disseminated through
local community radio stations and mass sensitization in
public places (churches, schools, markets, etc.). Capacity
building of local organizations on integration of community
based complaint mechanism as part of prevention and
response to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, is
ongoing in Mbandaka.

Psychosocial support continued to be offered to contacts,
orphans, members of the deceased family, and suspected
cases.

Screening of travellers continued at 16 points-of-entry
established in the city of Mbandaka. As of 21 May 2022, a
total of 246 060 (92.0%) were screened among the 267 565
travellers who had been registered since the onset of the
outbreak. In total, 136 alerts were detected among travelers.
No case was confirmed among travelers.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

Reports of new cases in a second health zone among persons not previously known as contacts underscore the precarious nature of the current Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The extremely high case fatality ratio in this outbreak warrants concerted efforts and innovative approaches to reduce resistance from communities and ensure buy-in for compliance to public health response measures including vaccine uptake. Enhanced risk communication and community engagement will be crucial to reducing resistance among affected families and ensuring that contact tracing activities are implemented unhindered and thoroughly. National authorities and partners need to double their efforts to prevent further spread of the outbreak to new health zones.

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/354552/OEW21-1622052022.pdf

https://www.afro.who.int/countries/mozambique/publication/outbreaks-and-emergencies-bulletin-week-21-16-22-may-2022

[Pathfinder]

WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 22 : 23 - 29 May 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 29 May 2022
...

Ebola Virus Disease Democratic Republic of the Congo

5 cases
5 Deaths
100%CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

No new case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) has been reported in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the last reported
confirmed case on 19 May 2022. As of 25 May 2022, a
cumulative of five cases (four confirmed and one probable) have
been recorded, with a case fatality ratio of 100%. The outbreak
remains confined to the Equateur province of the country, with
three affected health areas, Libiki and Motema Pembe Health
Areas in Mbandaka Health Zone and Mama Balako Health Area in
Wangata Health Zone.

As of 29 May 2022, a total of 638 contacts have been identified
and listed since the onset of the outbreak. Of these, 67 have
been dropped after completing 21 days of follow-up while 571
remain under follow-up. Detailed investigations are still ongoing
to determine the source of the outbreak as well as to identify
exposure history of cases and contacts.

The investigation of alerts as well as active case finding to
quickly detect any new suspected cases remains ongoing. On 27
May 2022, 62 new alerts including one community death were
identified and investigated. None were confirmed for Ebola virus
disease. Cumulatively, 532 samples have been tested since the
onset of the outbreak with four confirmed positive for Ebola virus
disease.

In recent weeks, the outbreak response has been challenged by
strike actions of health workers, thus hampering surveillance and
other response activities.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

Response activities at the field level continue to be
coordinated by the Provincial Health Division with technical
and operational support from the national Ministry of Health,
WHO, and other partners.

Albeit the strike actions from health workers, some public
health response activities are ongoing.

Of 7 649 travellers registered at the 16 points of entry on 26
May 2022, a total of 7 304 (92.1%) were screened for EVD.
In total, 298 954 (91.9%) of 32 335 travellers registered at
the points of entry since the onset of the outbreak have been
screened for EVD. A total of 79 were suspected of EVD and
tested. None were positive.

Contact tracing activities continued with 42 new contacts
being listed on 26 May 2022 from two health zones -
Wangata (26) and Bolenge (16). In total, 638 contacts have
been identified and listed since the onset of the outbreak, of
which 571 remain under follow-up. Ten contacts have been
lost to follow-up and efforts are underway to locate these
contacts.

A total of 1 520 persons in the affected health zones have
been vaccinated against EVD using the ring strategy targeting
contacts and contacts-of-contact. A total of 295 are contacts
and 1 225 are contacts-of-contacts. There are 760 frontline
health workers among those vaccinated.

The laboratory continues to analyze samples with a
cumulative total of 532 tested as of 29 May 2022. A total of
264 GeneXpert cartridges remain in stock across the country
with 83 available at the laboratory in Mbandaka City.
Other activities are also ongoing, including IPC interventions
in health care facilities and the community, psycho-social
support and RCCE actions to boost contact tracing and
vaccination activities.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

The report of the health workers’ strike is worrying and comes at
a critical time of response to the outbreak when concerted efforts
are needed to prevent new flare-ups and address community
resistance. Continuation of the strike actions could have potential
implications for timely detection of new cases leading to new
chains of transmission, contact tracing, vaccination, infection
prevention and control, and other response activities. It is,
therefore, urgent to resolve whatever grievances that exist and
put the response to the outbreak back on course. Enhanced
surveillance and response in the coming weeks will be needed to
ensure that there are no new hidden chains of transmission.


View/Open

OEW22-2329052022.pdf (2.568Mb)

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 23 : 30 May - 5 June 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 5 June 2022
...

Ebola Virus Disease Democratic Republic of the Congo

5 cases
5 Deaths
100% CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Since last reported on 19 May 2022, 17 days have passed
without reports of a new case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As of 5 June 2022, a
total of five cases (four confirmed and one probable) have been
recorded, all of whom have died. Equateur remains the only
affected province of the country, with two affected health zones
(Mbandaka and Wangata) and three affected health areas (Libiki,
Mama Balako and Motema Pembe).

Surveillance activities, including investigation of alerts, contact
tracing, and testing of suspected cases, continue to be performed,
although at sub-optimal levels due to strike actions from health
workers. In total, 1 076 contacts have been identified and listed
since the onset of the outbreak, with 418 still under 21 days of
follow-up. As of 5 June 2022, 611 samples have been tested
since the onset of the outbreak. Four were confirmed positive for
Ebola virus disease.

Source of the outbreak remains elusive, and investigators
continue to search for additional information, including
identifying exposure history of cases and contacts. Earlier
analysis from genomic sequencing indicated that the current
outbreak represents a new spillover event from the host reservoir
of the Ebola virus and is not directly linked to previous outbreaks
of the disease.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

Response activities at the field level continue to be
coordinated by the Provincial Health Division with technical
and operational support from the national Ministry of Health,
WHO, and other partners.

Albeit the strike actions from health workers, some public
health response activities are ongoing.

In the past week, 87 175 travelers were registered and
screened for EVD at points of entry. In total, 418 516 (92.7%)
of 451 641 travelers registered at the points of entry since
the onset of the outbreak have been screened for EVD. Of
these, 110 were suspected of EVD and tested. None were
positive.

A total of 418 contacts remains under follow-up, with 381
(91.1%) seen on 5 June 2022.

Forty-four new persons (four contacts and 40 contacts-ofcontacts)
were vaccinated in the past week. As of 5 June
2022, 1 564 persons in the affected health zones have been
vaccinated against EVD using the ring strategy targeting
contacts and contacts-of-contact. A total of 300 are contacts
and 1 264 are contacts-of-contacts. There are 787 frontline
health workers among those vaccinated.

Fifty-three new samples were tested for EVD in the past week
bringing to a total 611 analyze by the laboratory as of 5 June
2022. A total of 217 GeneXpert cartridges remain in stock
across the country, with 36 available at the laboratory in
Mbandaka City.

Other activities are also ongoing, including IPC interventions
in health care facilities and the community, psycho-social
support and RCCE actions to boost contact tracing and
vaccination activities.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

The report of no new cases of EVD in the Equateur Province
for the past 17 days is encouraging, however, caution needs to
be exercised as strike actions from local health workers have
hampered optimal surveillance and response activities. Amidst
community resistance and low vaccination coverage among close
contacts, the potential for flare-ups cannot be ruled out.
Resolution of the current strike actions staged by local health
workers must be prioritized to enhance surveillance for timely
detection of any new cases and put the response efforts back on
course.

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/...0505062022.pdf

https://www.afro.who.int/countries/k...ay-5-june-2022

[Pathfinder]

WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 24: 6 - 12 June 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 12 June 2022
...

Ebola Virus Disease Democratic Republic of the Congo

5 cases
5 Deaths
100% CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Almost four weeks have passed without report of a new case
of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (DRC). The last case was reported on 19 May 2022. As of
12 June 2022, a total of five (four confirmed and one probable)
cases of EVD have been reported in the current outbreak in
the DRC, with a case fatality ratio of 100%. Three health areas
(Libiki, Mama Balako and Motema Pembe) across two health
zones (Mbandaka and Wangata) in Equateur Province have been
affected so far.

Surveillance activities including investigation of alerts, contact
tracing, and testing of suspected cases continue, although
suboptimal. Cumulatively, 1 076 contacts have been identified
and listed since the beginning of the outbreak. All contacts have
completed 21 days of follow-up with no new cases identified
among the contacts. As of 12 June 2022, 712 samples have been
tested for EVD since the onset of the outbreak, four of which have
returned positive for the virus.

The government has instituted some remedial actions have been
taken to address the strike staged by local health worker although
full resolution is still pending.

as the strike action from local health care workers is still underway.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

Response activities at the field level continue to be
coordinated by the Provincial Health Division with technical
and operational support from the national Ministry of Health,
WHO, and other partners.

All remaining 418 contacts completed 21 days of follow-up,
with as of 12 June 2022.

Since the beginning of the outbreak, 528 491 202 (92.9%) of
528 718 travelers registered at the points of entry have been
screened for EVD, 225 of whom were suspected of EVD and
tested. None were positive.

As of 12 June 2022, 1 628 persons in the affected health
zones have been vaccinated against EVD using the ring
strategy targeting contacts and contacts-of-contact. A total
of 302 are contacts and 1 326 are contacts-of-contacts. There
are 831 frontline health workers among those vaccinated.

Seventy-five new samples were tested for EVD in the past
week, giving a total of 712 samples tested since the onset of
the outbreak including four positive cases. A total of 1 103
GeneXpert cartridges remain in stock across the country,
with 214 available at the laboratory in Mbandaka City.

Other activities continue to be undertaken on ground,
including IPC interventions in health care facilities and the
community, psycho-social support, and RCCE actions to
boost contact tracing and vaccination activities.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

The current outbreak of EVD in the Democratic Republic of Congo
appears to be under control, with no new cases reported for close
to four weeks. However, the response has been challenged by
strike actions from local health workers and resistance from
community members. Public health response tools, including
vaccines deployed in the early stage of the outbreak by the
government with support from WHO and partners may have
helped to nip the outbreak in its bud. Resolution of strike actions
as well as addressing community resistance for optimal uptake
of public health measures remains critical and must be pursued.
Efforts should be directed at learning from this response to
improve response to future outbreak of EVD.

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/356619/OEW24-0612062022.pdf

https://www.afro.who.int/countries/eritrea/publication/outbreaks-and-emergencies-bulletin-week-11-7-13-march-2022

[Pathfinder]

WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 26: 20 - 26 June 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 26 June 2022
...

Ebola Virus Disease Democratic Republic of the Congo

5 cases
5 Deaths
100% CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The countdown to end of the 14th Ebola virus disease (EVD)
outbreak recently declared in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo continues, with no new case reported since 20 May
2022. The outbreak is expected to be declared over in the next
seven days, which will mark 42 consecutive days without a new
confirmed case of the disease in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo.

As of 26 June 2022, five (four confirmed and one probable) cases
of EVD have cumulatively been reported, with a case fatality ratio
of 100%. Three health areas (Libiki, Mama Balako and Motema
Pembe) across two health zones (Mbandaka and Wangata) in
Equateur Province have been affected so far.

Surveillance activities, including active case search, investigation
of alerts and testing of suspected cases, are still ongoing, though
partially affected by strike actions staged by local health workers.
A total of 1 076 contacts were identified and listed since the
beginning of the outbreak and no contact is currently under
follow-up. A total of 742 samples have been tested for EVD since
the onset of the outbreak, of which four were positive for the
Ebola virus.

Local healthcare workers who have been on strike for more than
a month are gradually resuming work as some remedial actions
have been initiated by the government to address their concerns.

A full resolution remains pending.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

Response activities at the field level are still being
coordinated by the Provincial Health Division with technical
and operational support from the national Ministry of Health,
WHO, and other partners.

Community based surveillance trainings for rapid response
teams from Ingende and Bolomba health zones are still
ongoing. Alert monitoring also continues.

No new contacts are being followed-up; all remaining
contacts completed their 21 days of follow-up on 12 June
2022.

As of 26 June 2022, 493 676 (92.9%) of 531 334 travellers
registered at the points of entry were screened for EVD, 245
of whom were suspected of EVD and tested. None were
positive.

As of 26 June 2022, 1 989 persons in the affected health
zones have been vaccinated against EVD, with 302 contacts
and 1 687 contacts-of-contacts including 1 192 frontline
health workers vaccinated.

A total of 138 new samples were tested for EVD in the past
week, giving a cumulative total of 880 samples tested since
the onset of the outbreak including four positive cases. A
total of 945 GeneXpert cartridges remained in stock across
the country as of 26 June 2022, with 60 available at the
laboratory in Mbandaka City.

Other activities continue to be undertaken on ground,
including IPC interventions in health care facilities and the
community, psycho-social support, and RCCE actions to
boost contact tracing and vaccination activities.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

Even when the outbreak seems to be under control, the need
to strengthen surveillance activities and other preventive public
health measures remain paramount. The strike action from local
health workers has been evolving for more than one month,
hampering the optimal implementation of response activities on
the ground. The effort by the government to address the problem
is welcomed and should be pursued. Despite the enormous
challenges, the swift response of national authorities and partners
has paid off in controlling this outbreak so far
...
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/...2026062022.pdf

https://www.afro.who.int/health-topi...encies-updates

[Pathfinder]

The Democratic Republic of the Congo declares 14th Ebola outbreak over

04 July 2022

Brazzaville/Kinshasa – The Democratic Republic of the Congo today declared the end of the Ebola outbreak that erupted less than three months ago in Mbandaka, the capital of Equateur Province in the northwest. It was the third outbreak in the province since 2018 and the country’s 14th overall.

With greater experience in Ebola control, national emergency teams, with the support from World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, mounted a swift response soon after the outbreak was declared on 23 April, rolling out key counter measures including testing, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, treatmentand community engagement. Vaccination – a crucial protective measure – was launched just four days after the outbreak was declared.

In all, there were four confirmed cases and one probable case – all of whom died. In the previous outbreak in Equateur Province that lasted from June to November 2020, there were 130 confirmed cases and 55 deaths.

“Thanks to the robust response by the national authorities, this outbreak has been brought to an end swiftly withlimited transmission of the virus,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Crucial lessons have been learned from past outbreaks and they have been applied to devise and deploy an ever more effective Ebola response.”

The just ended outbreak saw a total of 2104 people vaccinated, including 302 contacts and 1307 frontline workers. To facilitate the vaccination rollout, an ultra-cold chain freezer was installed in Mbandaka which allowed for vaccine doses to be stored locally and safely and be delivered effectively.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has now recorded 14 Ebola outbreaks since 1976, six of which have occurred since 2018.

“Africa is seeing an increase in Ebola and other infectious diseases that jump from animals to humans impacting large urban areas,” said Dr Moeti. “We need to be ever more vigilant to ensure we catch cases quickly. This outbreak response shows that by bolstering preparedness, disease surveillance and swift detection, we can stay a step ahead.”

WHO supported the Democratic Republic of the Congo in implementing a strong national strategy developed early to guide response coordination; decentralizing operations to the lowest level to work closely with communities; basing the response on evidence; and regularly analysing the epidemiological risk to rapidly adjust the response.

Although the outbreak in Mbandaka has been declared over, health authorities are maintaining surveillance and are ready to respond quickly to any flare-ups. It is not unusual for sporadic cases to occur following an outbreak.

The disease, which affects humans and other primates, is severe and often fatal. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks. However, with the currently available effective treatment, patients have a significantly higher chance of survival if they are treated early and given supportive care.

https://www.afro.who.int/countries/democratic-republic-of-congo/news/democratic-republic-congo-declares-14th-ebola-outbreak-over