Congo - Ebola - 183 deaths + 187 suspected cases

Treyfish · Sep 30, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Kasa?-Westerner: Ebola, typhoid fever and dysentery, coexistence of three epidemics
DRC | September 30, 2007 with 13:30: 19

Beside the virus of the hemorrhagic fever of Ebola, two other epidemics are observed at the same time in the province of the Kasa?-Westerner. It is about proud typhoid and of the dysentery, the provincial Minister for Health reveals, pays radiookapi.net

Such is the conclusion to which the analyses of laboratory in two American centers arrived in Mweka and Lwebo, territories of the province of the Kasa?-Westerner. On 144 samples treated in these laboratories, 24 cases were declared positive, specify Doctor Ntumba Tshitoka. Approximately 380 cases of sick people or more were already identified as a whole whose majority died, it raised. These cases are related to one or the other of these three epidemics, according to the provincial Minister for health. The tests of laboratory continue to determine with exactitude each case compared to these epidemics, it indicated. The minister Ntumba Tshitoka again launched a call to the populations of his province to the observance of the hygienic rules and measures recommended to fight counter these epidemics.:tiphat: http://www.radiookapi.net/index.php?i=53&a=14789

Niko · Oct 1, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Source: M?decins Sans Fronti?res (MSF)
Date: 01 Oct 2007


 Ebola in DRC: Nearing control of the outbreak, but vigilance still required

 MSF and MSF Podcasts: Kinshasa/Brussels - M?decins Sans Fronti?res (MSF) has seen a decrease in the number of admissions in its isolation unit in Kampungu, a village of 9,000 inhabitants which is the epicentre of the outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

"Three patients, of which two have tested positive for Ebola, were admitted over the last week, the most recent one on Saturday," said Dr Michel Van Herp, MSF epidemiologist. "We are close to controlling the Ebola outbreak. But we remain vigilant as the virus is still circulating in some of the neighbouring villages. Also, as the incubation period for Ebola can be up to three weeks, there may still be infected people around who have not yet developed any symptoms."

The three patients currently followed by MSF's medical team are the latest of 32 admissions since early September. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 384 suspected cases have been reported since the beginning of May, including 176 deaths. Out of 53 blood samples taken, 24 tested positive to Ebola virus. Other diseases with symptoms similar to those of the first stage of Ebola are raging in this region of the central Congolese province of West Kasai: malaria, shigella, and typhoid fever.

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is an extremely contagious disease, for which there is no vaccine or cure. The Zaire-type of Ebola kills 70% to 90% of those infected. MSF's activities therefore focus on isolating infected people, rehydrating them and easing their pain - what helps some of them recover.

In order to contain the outbreak, it is also important to search for other cases and to trace those who have been in contact with people suspected of being infected.

"A reduction of the disease's transmission chain was made possible by these measures and by carrying out safe burial practices," added Dr Van Herp. "And collaboration with a laboratory installed in Luebo, 16 km north of Kampungu, by the Centre for Diseases Control (CDC), now makes diagnosis possible in 24 hours."

The first MSF team arrived on September 2. Currently, 17 international specialists and about 50 Congolese colleagues have set up two isolation units in Kampungu and in Luebo. MSF is working alongside the Congolese authorities, WHO and other organisations.

In around 20 villages located within a 30 kilometer radius around Kampungu, MSF visits health structures every day. The team has trained health staff and distributed medicines and protective material. As the virus spreads easily through body fluids, those caring for the sick are at extreme risk. In addition, 35 community workers have been trained to get information about prevention across to the population.

Yet some very isolated villages remain difficult to reach, such as Tchitala and Kalombayi, where suspected Ebola cases have been recorded. MSF's logisticial team, together with the population, is rehabilitating bridges and tracks in order to make urgently needed transport of sick people to the isolation units possible.

Only selected MSF documents are posted on Reliefweb. For a complete selection of MSF news, please visit the MSF International website

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/ACIO-77KF9M?OpenDocument

Treyfish · Oct 1, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Here is a short video:tiphat:......October 1, 2007? Ebola has struck at least 24 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, prompting doctors fearful of an epidemic to set up an isolation ward... http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/10/071001-ebola-video.html

Treyfish · Oct 1, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Ebola outbreak may be nearly contained: Canadian expert

Last Updated: Monday, October 1, 2007 | 10:07 AM ET

The Canadian Press

The Ebola outbreak that drew a large international assistance effort to the Democratic Republic of Congo may be coming under control, one of the Canadian experts involved in the response said Sunday.
In an interview from Mweka, Congo, Dr. Heinz Feldmann, head of the special pathogens division of the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, said a decision is expected in the next day or two about whether another wave of experts will be needed when the current team rotates out of the country on Oct. 11.
"From the sample numbers and the positive cases it seems to be that we're looking towards the end of this," said Feldmann, a veteran of several Ebola and Marburg fever containment efforts.
"That has to be taken with caution, because one case could start a new transmission chain and it could all start over again."
The outbreak is believed to date back to late April and may have involved several hundred people.
Feldmann said a second team has been chosen and is getting ready to travel to Mweka in case the World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) determines longer term international help is needed.
"We're just waiting for WHO and GOARN to either call it off or give the go-ahead," Feldmann said.
He and colleagues Allen Grolla and Dr. Gary Kobinger travelled to the town in the province of Kasai Occidental to set up a mobile laboratory that can operate in locations where few resources are available. The mobile lab was designed and built at the Winnipeg laboratory, part of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
By Sunday, the team had diagnosed four positive cases in five days of operation at Mweka. As of late last week, the ministry of health of the Democratic Republic of Congo announced 17 recent cases in Mweka and Luebo, where experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control have set up a laboratory.
Current estimates suggest roughly 170 people have died and more than 200 others were ill with symptoms that may have been Ebola or diseases that can be confused with a non-fatal case of Ebola.
In the early stages of the disease, Ebola has symptoms shared by a number of other diseases common in this part of Africa. Some cases of shigellosis and typhoid fever have been diagnosed among the suspected Ebola sufferers.:tiphat: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/10/01/ebola-outbreak.html

Treyfish · Oct 1, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

CDC scientists travel to Democratic Republic of the Congo to fight Ebola outbreak

Published: October 1, 2007

Chartered aircraft and CDC laboratory supplies awaiting pickup at grass airstrip in Luebo, DRC.
Scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to support efforts to control an outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in a remote province. Early reports described a range of symptoms in patients, making accurate clinical diagnosis impossible. Upon receipt of samples from the affected area, CDC scientists at the Special Pathogens Branch were able to diagnose Ebola virus infection in some patients. Evidence of Shigella dysenteriae and Salmonella typhi infection was also observed.
In response to a request for assistance from the DRC Ministry of Health, CDC has deployed an eight-person team and a complete field laboratory for testing and analysis of samples. Working with responders from the DRC Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, M?decins sans Fronti?res/Belgium, Epicentre and others, the CDC team will perform Ebola diagnostic tests on site in an effort to determine the scope of the outbreak.

CDC's Drs. Stuart Nichol (far left) and Thomas Ksiazek (middle), and laboratorian Thomas Stevens (far right) discuss setting up the CDC field laboratory with local responders.
Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a severe and highly fatal disease caused by a virus from the same family as the one that causes Marburg hemorrhagic fever. Both diseases are rare, but can cause dramatic outbreaks with human-to-human transmission and high fatality. There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine. The Ebola outbreak in 1995 in then-Zaire recorded a total of 233 deaths; the present outbreak exhibits similar numbers, with a death toll to date of 171.
The remote location of the outbreak poses particular challenges for the CDC team. "Contact tracing in rural areas is always difficult," notes Dr. Thomas Ksiazek, Chief of CDC's Special Pathogens Branch. "There are several different diseases occurring here simultaneously. Our field laboratory is now operational and we will be working quickly to collect and test specimens in an effort to ascertain the full scope of the Ebola outbreak.":tiphat: http://www.cdc.gov/news/2007/10/ebola_drc.html

Treyfish · Oct 3, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

The Minister for the Public health Victor Makwenge on mission of inspection on the new hearth of blossoming of the fever of Ebola with Lwebo
Political Kinshasa, 03/10/2007/
The authority n? 1 of the Public health in Rdc leads a strong delegation made up inter alia experts of WHO in the area where has just declared the fever of Ebola in the Kasa?-Westerner, for purposes to draw up a consequent report/ratio on the disaster epidemic.
The Minister for Health, Victor Makwenge carries out as of this Wednesday, a descent on the ground with Lwebo, Western Kasa?. Makwenge, with the head of a delegation including/understanding the representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), will also make a descent with Mweka and Kampungu.

The displacement of the member of the government is dictated by the discovery of a new case of Ebola confirmed by the mobile laboratory of CDC with Lwebo among the ten cases examine. These cases were taken on Saturday September 29 in the zone of Kampungu. What wants to say, according to Victor Makwenge, who the virus always remains in circulation in this zone.

The descent on the ground of the minister is also justified by the discovery of five cases of Shigellosis among the thirteen samples coming from the zone from Bena leka and Mweka and examine, this time, by the Winnipeg laboratory installed in Mweka.

During his maintenance, Tuesday, with the men of the media, the Minister for health indicated that this new case changes the total number of the cases of Ebola to twenty-five out of seventy six suspects test. Among the 25 confirmed cases, it continued, one counts ten deaths and three patients looked after by M?decins Without Borders (MSF) with Kampungu, two in insulation and another in residence.

Concerning the samples proven positive for shigellosis, the representative of the government stressed that the latter confirm other epidemics in progress in the zone. At when the end of the epidemic? Answer it will take time to analyze the epidemiologic and probably serologic data retrospectively in order to better document the epidemic. Before recalling that various partners carry out investigations to answer the epidemic since the end of August 2007.

Lastly, it concluded, the priority of the Congolese government and of all the partners is to identify and isolate all the suspect cases and to follow all the people having had contacts with these cases, with an aim of stopping the transmission chain.:tiphat:
http://www.digitalcongo.net/article/47160

Treyfish · Oct 3, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Congo-Kinshasa: Monitoring of Ebola "Must Continue"

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UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
3 October 2007
Posted to the web 3 October 2007
Kinshasa
Health specialists agree that surveillance and monitoring of an Ebola epidemic have to be maintained, despite falls in the numbers of people affected in the province of Kasai Occidental in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"There are fewer and fewer cases but that is not to say the epidemic is over ... the new case shows that the virus is still circulating and that it is necessary to maintain the same level of surveillance, care and screening," Dominique Legros, an epidemiologist with the UN World Health Organization (WHO), said.

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Laboratory tests confirmed a new case of Ebola from the village of Bulape, 10km north of Kampungu, according to the minister of health, Makwenge Kaput. Kampungu is the epicentre of the epidemic.
The new case puts the total number of confirmed cases of Ebola at 25, according to Congolese health officials. All the confirmed cases were in Kampungu, Makwenge said. So far six people have died.
"To declare an end to the epidemic it is necessary that we twice observe a three-week period without any new cases," Legros said. The incubation period for the Ebola virus is two to 21 days.
The latest case was confirmed by the Canadian national public health agency and the Centers for Disease Control mobile laboratories in the affected areas.
As of 27 September, there had been a total of 17 laboratory confirmed cases of Ebola haemorrhagic fever reported in the Mweka and Luebo health zone, Kasai Occidental Province, along with additional confirmations of other diseases associated with the outbreak, including typhoid and Shigella dysentery, according to the WHO.
Meanwhile, health experts were conducting a sensitisation campaign to prevent the spread of the epidemic.
In Kampungu, people are no longer shaking hands, preferring instead to use their elbows, Makwenge said.
According to Legros, the people were no longer washing dead bodies nor consuming monkey meat. "The people are paying a little more attention to hygiene," he said.:tiphat: http://allafrica.com/stories/200710030846.html

Treyfish · Oct 3, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Kapungu: Ebola, a new confirmed case
Western Kasa? | October 3, 2007 with 13:30: 23

A woman was declared Saturday last carrying the virus of the hemorrhagic fever of Ebola with Kampungu, locality located at approximately 300 kilometers of Kananga. This new case changes to 25 the number of people reached by the epidemic in Kasa? Occidental, brings back radiookapi.net

Information was confirmed by the Minister for the Health of the central government, Victor Makwenge Kaputo. The new case of Ebola was detected by American laboratory CDC. It was taken on September 29, specified the Minister for Health. For the moment, 76 other people would be concerned, it added.

A delegation of the ministry for Health must go this Wednesday in the zones touched by Ebola. ?The priority of the government and the partners is to identify and isolate all the suspect cases from Ebola, and to follow all the people who were in contact with these cases, in order to stop the transmission chain?, Victor Makwenge indicated. The confirmation of the last case means that the virus of this disease is always in circulation, and that consequently, the epidemic is not ?radiqu?e, ?even if one observes a reduction in the number of suspect cases and deaths reported?, it explained. For the Minister for Health, the incubation period of the virus of Ebola being 21 days, the epidemic can be declared destroyed only if, starting from the last case, 42 days pass without appearance of a new case.

In addition, according to WHO, other diseases presenting the same signs that those of Ebola are announced in the zone of health of Mweka:tiphat: http://www.radiookapi.net/index.php?i=53&a=14829

Treyfish · Oct 3, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

DRC: a new case of Ebola confirmed in Western Kasa?
AFP
Oct 3, 07 - 10h36

KINSHASA, Oct 2, 2007 (AFP) - a new case of hemorrhagic fever Ebola was confirmed in Western Kasa?, bearing to 25 the number of people touched by the virus in this province of the center of the democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), announced to Tuesday the Minister for Health.

?The new case of Ebola which has been just confirmed comes from the zone of Kampungu?, epicentre of the epidemic to approximately 150 km in the North-West of the provincial capital Kananga, declared the Minister for Health, Victor Makwenge Kaput, at the time of a press conference with Kinshasa.

The analyzed sample was taken on a patient on September 29, it specified.

?That wants to say that the virus is always in circulation in this zone and that the epidemic is not finished, even if one observes a reduction in the number of suspect cases and deaths reported?, underlined the minister.

?These new results change the total number of positive cases confirmed for Ebola to 25 out of 76 suspect cases tested. Among these 25 cases, one counts 10 deaths and three patients looked after by M?decins without borders (MSF) with Kampungu?, it continued.

The last proven case is the only one of Ebola among the last 10 suspect cases analyzed at the laboratory of Center for Disease Control (CDC) of Atlanta (the United States) installed with Luebo, approximately 125 km in the North-West of the provincial capital Kananga and 15 km of Kampungu.

The second international laboratory, of an agency of public health of Canada, installed with Mweka (150 km of Kananga), analyzed 13 other samples coming from the zone close to Bena Leka among which ?five cases are positive for (bacillar dysentery) shigellosis, but none for Ebola?.

?The positive samples for shigellosis confirm the fact that other epidemics are in hand in the zone?, indicated Mr. Makwenge, stressing the importance of the presence of laboratories of ground to allow a fast diagnosis, to identify the cases of Ebola and to isolate them from the others.

The minister indicated that the first data on the epidemics prevailing since the end April in the area ?had been refined? and that the total assessment was from now on of ?180 deaths for 249 suspect cases? of patients presenting the symptoms of various diseases (strong fevers, bloody diarrhoeas, haemorrhages).

Monday, MSF ?had noted a reduction in the admissions within its unit of insulation in Kampungu?, estimating that one was ?close to the control of the epidemic of Ebola? even if vigilance remained of setting ?because the virus always circulates in certain neighbouring villages? Kampungu.

?One will be able to declare the end of the epidemic only when one spends two incubation periods (that is to say 42 days) without a new case?, the minister underlined.

Very contagious, the Ebola virus already struck ex-Zaire twice, in 1976 and 1995.:tiphat: http://www.monuc.org/news.aspx?newsID=15587

Treyfish · Oct 3, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Source: World Health Organization (WHO)
Date: 03 Oct 2007

Ebola haemorrhagic fever in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - update 4, 03 October 2007


The Ministry of Health has confirmed that, as of 2 October 2007, a total of 25 out of 76 suspected cases of Ebola haemorrhagic fever from the province of Kasai Occidental have now tested positive for the disease. A further 187 contacts are currently under medical observation and will remain so until each has reached the end of their respective potential incubation periods without developing any symptoms of the disease.
Although there is now strong clinical and epidemiological evidence to suggest that the outbreak is slowing, identifying and isolating all suspect cases is still a priority for the response teams to ensure that the chains of transmission are broken. This includes following up any contacts over the incubation period in order to isolate them immediately if they become ill. Two consecutive incubation periods must elapse, a total of 42 days following the identification and isolation of the last confirmed case, before the outbreak is considered controlled. The international response team, with the participation of members of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, is continuing to work with the Ministry of Health in all areas of disease control including community health education, social mobilization, contact tracing, clinical management, infection control in health facilities and rapid on-site laboratory diagnosis. The international team is also assisting in conducting retrospective epidemiological studies to further characterize the outbreak. :tiphat:

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EDIS-77MPTL?OpenDocument

solitaire · Oct 4, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Single case could reignite Ebola epidemic in DRCongo: WHO

04/10/2007 09h01

SGE.GCQ45.041007090123.photo00.quicklook.default-245x169.jpg

Nurse Isabel Grovas (L) comforts a patient who has been laboratory confirmed to have Ebola
?AFP/WHO-HO/File - Christopher Black

KINSHASA (AFP) - A single case of the deadly Ebola virus could reignite an epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a World Health Organisation specialist warned Wednesday.

Despite a recent dip in suspected cases of the lethal disease -- which kills its victims mainly through organ failure after massive internal bleeding -- Dr Dominique Legros, an epidemiologist with the WHO, warned against complacancy that Ebola was beaten.

A total of 25 cases of the highly contagious virus have been recorded in health centres in the central West Kasai region of DRCongo since September 11, with admissions dropping in recent days.

But Dr Legros warned that since Ebola has a 21-day incubation period, two consecutive 21-day cycles without a new case would be needed before the outbreak could be said to have been contained.

However, he praised the local population for its vigilance and "positive" approach.

"There have been lots of epidemics in the recent past where the inhabitants have been hostile. That's not the case at all here," he said.

Dr Legros added that despite the high mortality rate, the Ebola disease was not as gruesome as commonly thought. "It's not like you see in disaster movies with people bleeding from every orifice," he said.

One of the biggest difficulties is that the initial symptoms are not that different from other illnesses such as Shingella, malaria or even measles, said the member of an international team who have been treating and monitoring the outbreak for the past fortnight.

He said that the likeliest source of further infection came from funeral ceremonies where corpses are washed, and health centres.

http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/071003221820.z68l09re.html

Treyfish · Oct 4, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Lubumbashi: halt with the illegal traffic of the protected species
Katanga | October 4, 2007 with 15:10: 10

The inspector head clerk to the division of the Environment invites the population not to buy chimpanzees. Its call fact following the seizure last week of a chimpanzee in the commune of Rwashi. Elie Kaobo also requires of Lushois not to consume the meat of monkey and of chimpanzee, two species which can be the reserve of the Ebola fever, brings back radiookapi.net

For Elie Kaobo, the chimpanzee is an inheritance of the Congolese State in process of extinction. ?When they are still babies, one can play with them, but when they grow, they become very aggressive because they reach a weight higher than that of the man. Then, the chimpanzee can be vector of many diseases such as the hemorrhagic fever Ebola because it is closer to the man by his genetic luggage. I think that those which consume the chimpanzee are exposed to the transmission of Ebola,??, it indicated.:tiphat: http://www.radiookapi.net/index.php?i=53&a=14841

Treyfish · Oct 6, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Kananga: Ebola, media called to intensify sensitizing
Western Kasa? | October 5, 2007 with 11:14: 10

The provincial Minister for Health invites the media to more sensitize the populations in the fight against the epidemic of Ebola. Call launched during a point of press Wednesday to Kananga, brings back radiookapi.net

Fortunat Ntumba Tshitoka thinks that the compliance with the rules of hygiene had an impact for the fight against the epidemic. The provincial Minister for Health draws the attention of the population to the refusal of certain people having been in liaison with a patient to be followed by the structures of health. For him, as long as the epidemic is not completely ?radiqu?e, the state of alert must be observed.

?One cannot control the movements of people who travel. We ask simply the population, whatever its residence, to observe measurements which we evoked. And we want consequently occasion to ask for the implication of all the mediae. We congratulate and thank initially these bodies for the efforts how much creditable which they provided so that the population observes measurements of hygiene which we forced in order to stop the propagation of this epidemic. Our call is launched to all the population finally to reinforce the monitoring. We think that with the will of the population, the engagement of the journalists, we will overcome this fatal disease which is the hemorrhagic fever Ebola?, declared the doctor.:tiphat: http://www.radiookapi.net/index.php?i=53&a=14859&sm=1&lm=10&s=ebola&tbl=9&of=0

In the same register, the national Minister for Health remained during 2 days in the territories of Luebo and Mweka. According to the press attach? of the minister, Doctor Victor Makwenge realized of the actions carried out on the spot by the government and his partners in the fight against the virus of Ebola. He visited the laboratories American and Canadian of detection of the viruses installed in these territories. He also went to Kampungu, epicentre of the epidemic of the hemorrhagic fever. The minister known as was satisfied of the work cut down by the teams on ground.

Treyfish · Oct 8, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Re: Congo - Ebola - 160 dead - WHO Experts In Congo To Study Mysterious Disease

Gene-swapping Ebola is a slippery target

22:00 08 October 2007

NewScientist.com news service

Debora MacKenzie Scientists have genetically sequenced Ebola viruses from gorillas and chimpanzees for the first time and found the virus to be more varied than previously thought. Unexpectedly, they have also discovered that different strains of the virus can swap genes – a find that could make producing a vaccine much more difficult.

The Ebola virus causes fever and haemorrhage and kills up to 90% of people who catch it. It has spread cross Africa since 1976, infecting humans and apes sporadically and also hiding in bats.
An outbreak currently underway in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is so far thought to have infected 76 people. Ebola has also killed thousands of apes and has caused the lowland gorilla to be classed as endangered.
The genetic code for human versions of the viruses taken from humans has been sequenced before. But, as sick animals are so difficult to find in the wild, and dead ones decompose quickly, until now no one has sequenced the virus from an ape.
Distributed virus

Eric Leroy and colleagues at the International Centre for Medical Research in Franceville, Gabon, managed to retrieve all or part of the Ebola virus from the remains of six gorillas and one chimpanzee. The viral genes were found to be similar to each other and to viruses from human victims in the same region.
But when all the sequences were analysed and compared, they clustered in two groups that, according to a model of how fast such viruses evolve, diverged from each other in 1976. Furthermore, when all available samples – from both humans and apes – were analysed together, those collected after 1996 were found to be more similar to each other than to those collected (from humans alone) before 1996.
Leroy believes this shows that the virus is already distributed across central Africa and something else must be responsible for the current wave of outbreaks. Leroy says the genetic differences "add to evidence for the pre-existing distribution of the virus."
Rare recombination

The results may not resolve the rivalry between competing theories about how Ebola spreads. Peter Walsh of the Max Planck Institute for Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, does not believe the virus is already distributed, and says different forms of it may simply be spreading together. "We have too few samples to know," he says.
But both experts agree that the real surprise is that recent samples from humans show some genes from one cluster and some from another. Such recombination is rare in RNA viruses and has never been seen before in filoviruses such as Ebola.
This recombination also means that a much wider range of genetic variants may emerge, making it harder to create an effective vaccine, says Walsh.
Journal reference: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0704076104):tiphat: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn12750-geneswapping-ebola-is-a-slippery-target.html

Treyfish · Oct 9, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 76 cases so far - International experts assisting

Re: Congo - Ebola - 76 cases so far - International experts assisting

Kinshasa, 08/10/2007 / Politique<snip>The minister of State close the President of the Republic made available of the Council of Ministers the reactivation of the Authority of the civil aviation to put order in the air transport sector. In addition, the Minister for the public health held to inform the members of the government of the situation of the epidemic of the hemorrhagic fever of Ebola, in Kasa? Occidental.

According to its talk, the epidemic is under control. Two specialized laboratories are operational in the zone of the epidemic. In the same way, M?decins without borders (MSF) installed two centers of insulation in Kampungu and Southern Luebo. After this cleaning of the data base, the total figures are re-examined as follows: 249 cases answering the clinical definition of 185 deaths. Epidemiologic investigations continue on the ground.<snip>:tiphat: http://www.digitalcongo.net/article/47246

Gert van der Hoek · Oct 10, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 76 cases so far - International experts assisting

Re: Congo - Ebola - 76 cases so far - International experts assisting

'No fresh Ebola case in DRC's western Kasai'

Kinshasa, DR Congo - No new case of the Ebola hemorrhagic fever or death has been reported in DR Congo's western Kasai since 23 Sept., the Congolese News Agency (ACP) reported Monday, quoting the provincial Health and Social Affairs Minister, Ntumba Tshitoka.

Tshitoka said the significant drop in fresh Ebola cases was due to the strict respect of the hygiene rules by populations and patients care.

He said some samples taken from the 209 people among the families of those affected by this epidemic were being examined by the two laboratories set up in Mweka and in Luebo.

Out of the 144 samples sent to laboratories in Canada and the US three weeks ago, 17 cases have confirmed the existence of the Ebola virus in western Kasai, the Minister said.

Some 175 people, three of whom were nurses, have died since the epidemic broke out, the Minister disclosed.

Kinshasa - 09/10/2007

http://www.afriquenligne.fr/news/daily-news/'no-fresh-ebola-case-in-drc's-western-kasai'-2007100910276/

Treyfish · Oct 10, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 76 cases so far - International experts assisting

Re: Congo - Ebola - 76 cases so far - International experts assisting

Mweka-Lwebo: Ebola, no new detected case
Western Kasa? | October 9, 2007 with 11:02: 34

be laboratories of detection of the hemorrhagic viruses of the fever of Ebola installed in Mweka and in Lwebo, in the province of the Kasa?-Westerner, receive samples less and less to be examined. Since last week, no new case was announced, brings back radiookapi.net

17 samples were examined in the two laboratories American and canadiendans these two cities. The report/ratio of the World Health Organization, WHO, announces on this subject that of all these samples, no new case of proven Ebola was detected.

However, according to epidemiologists, the reduction in new cases proven of the epidemic is not inevitably synonymous with its control. It is necessary for 42 days, starting from the last case, for saying so yes or not, the population is except danger of the epidemic of Ebola, still repeated the provincial Minister for Health. What requires the continuation of alarm in the zones concerned, it let know.

In addition, on ground with Mweka and Lwebo, the Community relays of the alarm system are said d?motiv?s by the delay of payment of their collation. What is likely to be a fault in the alarm system.:tiphat: http://www.radiookapi.net/index.php?i=53&l=0&c=0&a=14916&da=&of=31&s=&m=2&k=0&r=all&sc=0

Treyfish · Oct 15, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 175(?) dead - International experts assisting

Re: Congo - Ebola - 175(?) dead - International experts assisting

Source: M?decins du Monde
Date: 12 Oct 2007
Congo: Combating the epidemic of Ebola
On Sept. 11, 2007, the presence of the Ebola virus in the province of Kasa? Occidental has been officially confirmed. Very contagious disease that leaves little chance of survival to its victims. Medecins du Monde intervened to sensitize the population on the risks of transmission and training health care workers to prevent contagion.

The epidemic of haemorrhagic fever known as Ebola fever has appeared mainly in the area of health Mweka with direct impact on the health of surrounding areas. On 1 October 2007, 183 deaths and 187 cases "contacts" (people suspected of being infected) were identified. Merely touching an infected person may result in the contraction of the disease.

Among the activities, Medecins du Monde has embarked on the training of two relays community by the village. Every day, these relays disseminate awareness messages sent to the population. The nursing staff at health centers actively involved in training on hygiene, recognition of the disease, the use of preventive supplies, and so on. The huge potential contagious virus forced to attention at all times. The beneficiaries of the project are reviving and with the basic concepts of hygiene.

On the ground, Axelle Ronsse, emergency doctor, is in charge of overseeing the operations: "The Congolese people are very attentive to the messages that are transmitted. They also raise a lot of questions. This attitude is the best to beat the disease. To raise awareness, we operate a radio. Meanwhile, leaflets are distributed in the villages:tiphat: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/RMOI-77YN5S?OpenDocument

Treyfish · Oct 17, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 183 deaths + 187 suspected cases

Official Government Wires

Mokambo border on 24hr surveillance of ebola

Oct. 17 -- Mufulira 16 Oct ZANIS --- Mokambo border in Mufulira district has been put on 24 hour surveillance for any possible outbreak of the deadly Hemorrhagic fever(Ebola). District health management office Planning Manager, John Lungu, disclosed in Mufulira at a district preparedness task force committee meeting held at the council chamber. Mr. Lungu said since the district shares a long stretch with the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) with several entry points into the town, there is need to be on high alert for any possible out break of the Ebola epidemic. Mr. Lungu said an emergency room at Mokambo border clinic has also been created as a measure to prepare for the deadly contagious virus. He noted that the district, being the main entry point to the Copperbelt from Congo DR, is highly vulnerable, hence the need to put all necessary measures in place. The Ebola epidemic has been reported in the Kasai region in the neighbouring Congo DR where at least 170 people died with six cases confirmed to have resulted of the disease. And District Health Environmental Health Expert, Joe Nkamba who presented a report on the Ebola situation in the neighbouring Congo DR, said the district has to be on alert as the health experts in Congo DR are still treating some suspected cases in the Kasai region. Mr. Nkamba suggested to the committee to intensify its information education and communication campaign at all its entry points so that the people are aware of the symptoms and be able to alert the health workers. Mufulira has about six main entry points into Congo DR namely Luansobe 14, 17, 21 Miles farming Blocs, Butondo, and Muya:tiphat: http://www.upi.com/Official_Government_Wires/view.php?StoryID=20071017-513128-6557-r

Treyfish · Oct 17, 2007

Re: Congo - Ebola - 183 deaths + 187 suspected cases

Kampungu: Ebola investigation on the origin of the epidemic
Kasai Occidental | October 16, 2007 at 10:20:41

The laboratory's research center based in Winnipeg Kapungu passes to the stage of investigating the origin of the epidemic hemorrhagic fever Ebola. According to Canadian researchers, this second stage is a normal process generally speaking after a lull of confirmed cases reported protest

According to experts, no such inquiry, it would be difficult to say with certainty the origin of the disease. Scientists conduct their research by investigating people in the communities Kampungu, epicenter of the epidemic. Through questionnaires and other appropriate methods, they are trying to trace the family tree of the disease. They date back cases contacts alert in case of origin. This, to find out how the first case, human or animal has been infected.

This activity goes hand in hand with the ongoing review of the samples received daily by the Canadian laboratory. He replaced the laboratory at CDC Lwebo. For reasons of proximity, Winnepeg was transferred to his lab Kapungu. According to the provincial minister of health, the United States laboratory had no reason to stay in the region as a result of the significant decrease in the number of samples to be examined.

It should be noted that according to the WHO, the natural reservoir of this virus is not exactly identified and no vaccine against the disease is not yet known. The mortality rate is 80% and the infection has a high speed of contagion. Thus, the provincial Ministry of Health insists on respect for the rules of hygiene and basic reporting of instances, up to the official announcement of the end of the epidemic.:tiphat: http://www.radiookapi.net/index.php?i=53&l=0&c=0&a=15016&da=&of=52&s=&m=2&k=0&r=all&sc=0

Congo - Ebola - 183 deaths + 187 suspected cases

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