The Ministry of Health has published EBOLA DRC - Evolution of the response to the Ebola outbreak in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri to Tuesday, October 30, 2018. Excerpt from the Google translation, and then a comment:
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE PROVINCES OF NORTH KIVU AND ITURI
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
The Epidemiological Situation of Ebola Virus Disease, October 29, 2018:
• A total of 276 cases of haemorrhagic fever were reported in the region, of which 241 confirmed and 35 probable.
• Of the 241 confirmed, 140 died and 74 are cured. The others are hospitalized in the different Ebola Treatment Centers (ETCs) installed.
• 65 suspected cases under investigation.
• 2 new cases confirmed in Beni.
• 1 new confirmed case death in Beni.
• 1 healed in Beni.
• 5.483 contacts to follow to date.
Remarks:
• To avoid that the total number of cases varies (up or down) daily, the suspect cases have been placed in a separate category. Thus, suspect cases with positive laboratory tests will be added to the confirmed category, while negative ones (non-cases) will be removed from the table.
• The category of probable cases includes all reported deaths for which it was not possible to obtain biological samples for laboratory confirmation. The investigations will determine whether these deaths are related to the epidemic or not.
• A community death is a death in the community, outside of a licensed health center.
News of the response
Vaccination
• Since the beginning of vaccination on 8 August 2018, 24,510 people have been vaccinated , including 12,762 in Beni, 4,391 in Mabalako, 1,962 in Katwa, 1,663 in Mandima, 1,295 in Butembo, 690 in Masereka, 434 in Bunia, 355 in Tchomia, 240 to Komanda, 227 to Kalunguta, 160 to Musienene, 121 to Oicha, 110 to Vuhovi and 100 to Mutwanga.
DRC's Ebola vaccination program has done very well under difficult conditions, and I have yet to see a report of anyone contracting Ebola after being vaccinated. In related news, Mary Marshall has sent the link to this MedXpress report, which says two other vaccines are also showing great promise.
