DRC - Meningitis outbreak 2022

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 14: 28 March – 3 April 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 3 April 2022
...

All events currently being monitored by WHO AFRO

New Events

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Suspicion of Meningitis outbreak

Date notified to WCO
28-Mar-22

End of reporting period
21-Mar-22

Total cases 1 618
Cases Confirmed 3
Deaths 118
CFR 7.3%

From week 1 through week 10 ,2022 (ending 13 March ) , a total of 1 618 suspected cases of meningitis and 118 deaths (CFR 7.3%) have been reported in the country. Since Week 9, 2022 (ending 6 March), the alert threshold for suspected meningitis outbreak has been crossed in the health district of Walikale in the North Kivu province located in the meningitis belt of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In addition, from week 1 to week 10, 2022, the Walikale health district recorded 82 suspected cases of meningitis and 6 deaths (CFR 7.3%). Two cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were positive for Hemophilus Influenza and one cerebrospinal fluid sample was positive for Neisseria Meningitidis. Response activities are organized in the health district with the support from WHO.

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OEW14-280303042022.pdf (1.938Mb)

https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/352849

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haut-U%C3%A9l%C3%A9
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Translation Google

Haut-Uele: an epidemic of meningitis has already killed more than 10 people in Watsa

31.05.2022,
PROVINCES
-
An epidemic in the form of meningitis killed eleven people in a locality located at least 15 kilometers from Mungbere in the chiefdom of Andikofa, in the Gombari health zone, Watsa territory in the province of Haut-Uele.

According to the head doctor of the Gombari health zone, Sébastien Tagba, who confirms the information, the spread of this disease is rapid and, in just a few days, it has managed to kill 11 people and other patients are admitted to the Anuarite health center on site in Mungbere for care.

“Preliminary results show that this is meningitis and it has already killed up to 11 people,” said Doctor Sébastien Tagba.

He invites the population to personal protection while reassuring that the experts are hard at work to pinpoint the main cause and eradicate the danger.

Fidèle Mamba (Correspondent in Haut-Uele)
congo-press.com (MCP) / mediacongo.net

https://www.mediacongo.net/article-actualite-105570_haut_uele_une_epidemie_de_la_meningite_a_deja_fait_plus_de_10_morts_a_watsa.html

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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
...

All events currently being monitored by WHO AFRO

New Events

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Suspected Meningitis

Date notified to WCO
31-May-22

Start of reporting period
31-May-22

End of reporting period
31-May-22

Total cases 26
Cases Confirmed
Deaths 14
CFR 53,80%

Local health authorities were alerted on 25 May 2022 of four successive deaths with features typical of meningitis involving two males and females from Gombari Health Zone, Haut Uele Province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. An investigation launched by local health authorities has identified a total of 26 cases with 14 deaths (CFR 53.8%) as of 31 May 2022. Gram-negative coccobacilli, suggestive of Haemophilus Influenza, were isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples obtained from three of the cases. Further analyses are ongoing at the National Reference Laboratory in Kinshasa (INRB-Kinshasa).

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

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

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

Suspected Meningitis Democratic Republic of the Congo

44 cases
18 Death
40.9% CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The head of the Akpandau health area alerted the Gombari health
zone management team regarding successive deaths of four
adult patients (two men and two women) of unknown cause on
25 May 2022.

The four patients were residents of Konzokonvu village, in
Apodo health area, Gombari health zone, Haut Uele Province in
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

A field mission to the affected area conducted by the local health
team on 27 May 2022 confirmed the reported community alerts.
A total of 11 suspected cases with seven deaths were identified
with signs and symptoms of fever, severe headache, convulsions,
physical asthenia, diarrhea and vomiting. The average duration
between the onset of symptoms and death without treatment was
between 12 to 24 hours.

Culture results of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples obtained from
three cases on 30 May 2022 showed gram-negative coccobacillus
suggestive of Haemophilus influezae. Further analysis of one
sample sent to the National Institute of Biomedical Research in
Kinshasa (INRB-Kinshasa), detected Neisseria Meningitidis type
C through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing. Additional
samples are being collected for testing.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the outbreak started on
20 May 2022 when the first case was reported in Konzokonvu
village, Apodo health area, Gombari health zone. As of 7 June
2022, a total of 44 cases and 18 deaths (case fatality ratio 40.9%)
have been reported. Of the 44 cases reported, 12 are admitted
and undergoing treatment, while 14 have recovered. The most
affected age group is 30-49 years (31.8%), followed by 5-14
years old (20.5%). Women are the most affected, constituting
54.5% (n=24) of the cases.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

The Provincial and District health departments are mobilizing
health partners operating in the Haut Uele province to set up
a coordination committee for the response.

A rapid response team was deployed to the affected area to
investigate the event and initiate response activities.

A total of 5 000 doses of ceftriaxone have been delivered
to the affected area for management of cases in line with
the WHO recommended protocol. The patients currently
admitted are undergoing clinical care.

Four CSF samples have been sent to the National Institute
of Biomedical Research in Kinshasa (INRB-Kinshasa) for
analysis, one of them arrived and tested positive for Neisseria
Meningitidis type C through Polymerase Chain Reaction
(PCR) testing. An additional five CSF samples are being
shipped to Kinshasa as well.

Risk communication activities are ongoing in the affected
communities.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

The affected area is part of sub-Saharan Africa’s meningitis
belt, with outbreaks reported frequently. The high case fatality
reported in the current outbreak is concerning and follows
similar trend observed in the previous years. Mass population
movement in the affected areas, facilitated by nomadic herders
and mining activities, can potentially lead to spread of the disease
and escalate the outbreak. Health authorities will need to collect
additional samples to confirm the outbreak and implement rapid
public health measures to prevent further spread. Surveillance
strengthening, including active case finding and reinforced risk
communication activities should be prioritized.

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

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 27: 27 June - 3 July 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 3 July 2022
...
All events currently being monitored by WHO AFRO

New Events
...

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Suspected Meningitis (Gombari health Zone)

Date notified to WCO 31-May-22
Start of reporting period 31-May-2022
End of reporting period 27-Jun-22

Total cases Cases 75
Cases Confirmed 1
Deaths 20
CFR 26.7%

Gombari health zone team investigated an alert of successive meningitis deaths of four adult patients of unknown cause, all residents of the Konzokonvu village, in Apodo health area. Samples were sent to the National Reference Laboratory in Kinshasa for further analysis and one sample tested positive for Neisseria Meningitidis. As of 27 June 2022, a total of 75 cases and 20 deaths (CFR 26.7%) have been reported from four health areas (Apodo, Kossia, Akpandau and Tangi) of the Gombari health zone, province of Haut Uele, in the North-East of the Democratic Republic of Congo. More samples are still needed for testing in order to confirm the outbreak and detect the predominant germ for vaccination.

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/...0603072022.pdf

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Translation Google

Tshopo: 15 deaths from meningitis in Mangi in the space of a month

Posted on Sat, 09/10/2022 - 08:39 | Modified on Sat, 09/10/2022 - 08:39

Fifteen people have died out of about 60 cases of meningitis recorded since the beginning of last August in the mining town of Mangi, territory of Banalia (Tshopo).

According to the head doctor of the Banalia health zone, Patrick Mbenga, a team is mobilized to follow up on cases mainly in the Mangi health area:

“We had some drugs from the WHO and we are doing lumbar punctures and trying to take care of cases to limit the damage. Otherwise we would have a lot of deaths”.

For him, the lack of vaccination is the main cause of the resurgence of this disease:

“There is a great mobility of the population. To have universal coverage, it will be necessary to have a minimum of 90% of the population vaccinated. So that the population of a health area is protected. Unfortunately 25% of this population moves at any time. This means that the population does not have the collective immunity due to this significant mobility. And then (Mangi) it's a landlocked environment. Routine vaccination does not proceed normally. There is no cold chain. These difficult working conditions and isolation are among the factors that explain this upsurge”.

The head doctor of the Banalia health zone stressed that this situation comes 8 months after the declaration, by the Congolese government, of the end of this epidemic in this entity, i.e. last December.

At the end of last year, meningitis had caused 205 deaths out of 2,602 registered patients.

In addition, the administrator of the territory of Banalia who is president of the local coordination committee affirms that the partners are already informed of this situation and are preparing for a mission in the field.

https://www.radiookapi.net/2022/09/10/actualite/sante/tshopo-15-deces-dus-la-meningite-mangi-en-lespace-dun-mois

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 40: 26 September to 2 October 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 2 October 2022
...
All events currently being monitored by WHO AFRO
...
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Suspected meningitis Ungraded

Date notified to WCO
Start of reporting period 2-Jun-22
End of reporting period 25-Sep-22

Total cases 116
Cases Confirmed
Deaths 18
CFR 15.5%

A suspected meningitis outbreak is ongoing in the Banalia health zone, Tshopo province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. From 2 June 2022 to 25 September 2022, a total of 116 suspected cases with 18 deaths (CFR 15.5%) have been reported. Three health areas are the hotspots: Mangi , Bongonza and Akuma.

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/363400/OEW40-260902102022.pdf

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 44: 24 to 30 October 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 30 October 2022
...
All events currently being monitored by WHO AFRO...
...

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Suspected meningitis Ungraded


Date notified to WCO
Start of reporting period 2-Jun-22
End of reporting period 22-Oct-22

Total cases 131
Cases Confirmed
Deaths 20
CFR 15.3%

A suspected meningitis outbreak is ongoing in the Banalia health zone, Tshopo province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. From 2 June 2022 to 22 October
2022, a total of 131 suspected cases with 20 deaths (CFR 15.3%) have been reported. Three health areas are the hotspots: Mangi , Bongonza and Akuma.

...

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/364078/OEW44-2430102022.pdf

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 2: 2 to 8 January 2023
Data as reported by: 17:00; 8 January 2023
...

All events currently being monitored by WHO AFRO
...

Democratic Republic of the Congo Suspected meningitis Ungraded

Date notified to WCO 31-May-22
Start of reporting period 2-Jun-22
End of reporting period 30-Dec-22

Total cases 165
Cases Confirmed
Deaths 26
CFR 15.8%

The suspected meningitis outbreak is still ongoing in the Banalia health zone, Tshopo province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. From 2 June 2022 to 30 December 2022, a total of 165 suspected cases with 26 deaths (CFR 15.8%) have been reported. Three health areas are the hotspots: Mangi, Bongonza and Akuma. Cerebrospinal fluid samples have been collected and laboratory investigations are ongoing.

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/365578/OEW02-0208012023.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y