Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin, Week 37: 9 - 15 September 2019
...
Democratic Republic of the Congo
3 116 Cases
2 090 Death
67% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
The Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in North Kivu, South Kivu and
Ituri provinces in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues, with 13
health zones and 51 health areas reporting confirmed cases in the past
21 days (24 August to 13 September 2019). Since our last report on 8
September 2019 (Weekly Bulletin 36), there have been 37 new confirmed
cases and 26 new deaths. The principle hot spots of the outbreak in
the past 21 days are Kalunguta (22%; n=35), Mambasa (17%; n=28),
Mandima (15%; n=24) and Beni (13%; n=21). Nine health zones, namely
Mambasa, Komanda, Mandima, Kalunguta, Kyondo, Mabalako, Beni,
Kayna and Katwa have reported new confirmed cases in the past seven
days and remain points of attention. The health zones of Alimbongo and
Oicha have a total of 21 days without notification of new confirmed cases.
As of 13 September 2019, a total of 3 116 EVD cases, including 3 005
confirmed and 111 probable cases have been reported. To date, confirmed
cases have been reported from 29 health zones: Ariwara (1), Bunia (4),
Komanda (49), Lolwa (3), Mambasa (49), Mandima (281), Nyakunde
(1), Rwampara (8) and Tchomia (2) in Ituri Province; Alimbongo (5),
Beni (669), Biena (16), Butembo (281), Goma (1), Kalunguta (180),
Katwa (648), Kayna (26), Kyondo (25), Lubero (31), Mabalako (373),
Manguredjipa (18), Masereka (50), Musienene (84), Mutwanga (32),
Nyiragongo (3), Oicha (55), Pinga (1) and Vuhovi (103) in North Kivu
Province and Mwenga (6) in South Kivu Province.
As of 13 September 2019, a total of 2 090 deaths were recorded,
including 1 979 among confirmed cases, resulting in a case fatality ratio
among confirmed cases of 66% (1 979/3 005). The cumulative number
of health workers affected is now 159, which is 5% of the confirmed and
probable cases to date.
Contact tracing is ongoing in 14 health zones. A total of 13 294 contacts
are under follow-up as of 13 September 2019, of which 11 891 have been
seen in the past 24 hours, comprising 89% of the contacts, comparable
to that during the past seven days (90%). Alerts in the affected provinces
continue to be raised and investigated. Of 3 093 alerts processed (of
which 2 980 were new) in reporting health zones on 13 September 2019,
2 992 were investigated and 497 (17%) were validated as suspected
cases.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
Surveillance activities continue, including case investigations, active
case finding in health facilities and communities, and identification
and listing of contacts around the latest confirmed cases. Crossborder collaboration continues, particularly in Uganda and Rwanda.
As of 13 September 2019, a cumulative total of 220 529 people has
been vaccinated since the start of the outbreak in August 2018.
Point of Entry/Point of Control (PoE/PoC) screening continues, with
over 94 million screenings to date. A total of 111/117 (95%) PoE/
PoC transmitted reports as of 13 September 2019.
The protocol for treatment of Ebola patients in Democratic Republic
of the Congo has been revised following data from a randomized
clinical trial showing, for the first time, that Ebola treatments improve
survival rates. Two of the four trial drugs were found to have the
greatest efficacy and are now being provided to confirmed cases
under the compassionate use protocol.
There are continued community reintegration and psychosocial
activities for patients discharged from ETCs, along with
psychoeducation sessions to strengthen community engagement
and collaboration in the response.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities continue and during
this week, 136 households and two schools were equipped with
infection prevention and control and WASH inputs.
Community awareness and mobilization messages are being updated, revised and
harmonized and have been pre-tested by the commission and will subsequently be
shared in coordination and sub-coordination activities.
In Butembo a dialogue was held with community leaders and transit agency
officials to reinforce their commitment to strict adherence to prevention measures
in the community, including points of entry and WASH measures; in Mutwanga, the
Ruwenzori Sector Chief appealed for the community to collaborate with response
teams and compliance with hygiene measures; in Mwenga, 63 local leaders, school
authorities and women?s association members from Kalambi health area were briefed
on EVD and community engagement.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
There are early signs of the outbreak easing, including the decrease in numbers of new
confirmed cases in Beni and Mandima and the lack of new confirmed cases for 21 days in
Alimbongo and Oicha. However, it is too soon to know if this is an indication of a decrease
in transmission intensity of EVD. Local authorities and partners need to continue their robust
response to the disease, using both novel and proven public health measures to ensure that
there is no further geographical spread of the disease.
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/327408/OEW37-0915092019.pdf
https://www.afro.who.int/node/11740
...
Democratic Republic of the Congo
3 116 Cases
2 090 Death
67% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
The Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in North Kivu, South Kivu and
Ituri provinces in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues, with 13
health zones and 51 health areas reporting confirmed cases in the past
21 days (24 August to 13 September 2019). Since our last report on 8
September 2019 (Weekly Bulletin 36), there have been 37 new confirmed
cases and 26 new deaths. The principle hot spots of the outbreak in
the past 21 days are Kalunguta (22%; n=35), Mambasa (17%; n=28),
Mandima (15%; n=24) and Beni (13%; n=21). Nine health zones, namely
Mambasa, Komanda, Mandima, Kalunguta, Kyondo, Mabalako, Beni,
Kayna and Katwa have reported new confirmed cases in the past seven
days and remain points of attention. The health zones of Alimbongo and
Oicha have a total of 21 days without notification of new confirmed cases.
As of 13 September 2019, a total of 3 116 EVD cases, including 3 005
confirmed and 111 probable cases have been reported. To date, confirmed
cases have been reported from 29 health zones: Ariwara (1), Bunia (4),
Komanda (49), Lolwa (3), Mambasa (49), Mandima (281), Nyakunde
(1), Rwampara (8) and Tchomia (2) in Ituri Province; Alimbongo (5),
Beni (669), Biena (16), Butembo (281), Goma (1), Kalunguta (180),
Katwa (648), Kayna (26), Kyondo (25), Lubero (31), Mabalako (373),
Manguredjipa (18), Masereka (50), Musienene (84), Mutwanga (32),
Nyiragongo (3), Oicha (55), Pinga (1) and Vuhovi (103) in North Kivu
Province and Mwenga (6) in South Kivu Province.
As of 13 September 2019, a total of 2 090 deaths were recorded,
including 1 979 among confirmed cases, resulting in a case fatality ratio
among confirmed cases of 66% (1 979/3 005). The cumulative number
of health workers affected is now 159, which is 5% of the confirmed and
probable cases to date.
Contact tracing is ongoing in 14 health zones. A total of 13 294 contacts
are under follow-up as of 13 September 2019, of which 11 891 have been
seen in the past 24 hours, comprising 89% of the contacts, comparable
to that during the past seven days (90%). Alerts in the affected provinces
continue to be raised and investigated. Of 3 093 alerts processed (of
which 2 980 were new) in reporting health zones on 13 September 2019,
2 992 were investigated and 497 (17%) were validated as suspected
cases.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
Surveillance activities continue, including case investigations, active
case finding in health facilities and communities, and identification
and listing of contacts around the latest confirmed cases. Crossborder collaboration continues, particularly in Uganda and Rwanda.
As of 13 September 2019, a cumulative total of 220 529 people has
been vaccinated since the start of the outbreak in August 2018.
Point of Entry/Point of Control (PoE/PoC) screening continues, with
over 94 million screenings to date. A total of 111/117 (95%) PoE/
PoC transmitted reports as of 13 September 2019.
The protocol for treatment of Ebola patients in Democratic Republic
of the Congo has been revised following data from a randomized
clinical trial showing, for the first time, that Ebola treatments improve
survival rates. Two of the four trial drugs were found to have the
greatest efficacy and are now being provided to confirmed cases
under the compassionate use protocol.
There are continued community reintegration and psychosocial
activities for patients discharged from ETCs, along with
psychoeducation sessions to strengthen community engagement
and collaboration in the response.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities continue and during
this week, 136 households and two schools were equipped with
infection prevention and control and WASH inputs.
Community awareness and mobilization messages are being updated, revised and
harmonized and have been pre-tested by the commission and will subsequently be
shared in coordination and sub-coordination activities.
In Butembo a dialogue was held with community leaders and transit agency
officials to reinforce their commitment to strict adherence to prevention measures
in the community, including points of entry and WASH measures; in Mutwanga, the
Ruwenzori Sector Chief appealed for the community to collaborate with response
teams and compliance with hygiene measures; in Mwenga, 63 local leaders, school
authorities and women?s association members from Kalambi health area were briefed
on EVD and community engagement.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
There are early signs of the outbreak easing, including the decrease in numbers of new
confirmed cases in Beni and Mandima and the lack of new confirmed cases for 21 days in
Alimbongo and Oicha. However, it is too soon to know if this is an indication of a decrease
in transmission intensity of EVD. Local authorities and partners need to continue their robust
response to the disease, using both novel and proven public health measures to ensure that
there is no further geographical spread of the disease.
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/327408/OEW37-0915092019.pdf
https://www.afro.who.int/node/11740