The Ministry of Health has a long update today: EBOLA DRC - Evolution of the response to the Ebola outbreak in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri to Tuesday, April 30, 2019. We could see 1,000 deaths before the end of the week. Excerpt from the Google translation:
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE PROVINCES OF NORTH KIVU AND ITURI
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola Virus Disease dated 29 April 2019:
• Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,480, of which 1,414 are confirmed and 66 are probable. In total, there were 970 deaths (904 confirmed and 66 probable) and 412 people cured.
• 279 suspected cases under investigation;
• 14 new confirmed cases, including 6 in Katwa, 2 in Musienene, 2 in Butembo, 1 in Mabalako, 1 in Beni, 1 in Kayna and 1 in Kalunguta;
• 13 new confirmed case deaths, including
º 6 community / hospital deaths, 2 in Katwa, 2 in Musienene, 1 in Kayna and 1 in Beni;
º 7 CTE / CT deaths, including 4 in Butembo and 3 in Katwa;
• 1 new healed from the CTE of Butembo.
/! \ The data presented in this table are subject to change later, after extensive investigations and after redistribution of cases and deaths in their health areas.
News of the response
Establishment of multisectoral Ebola Response Committee
• Considering the persistence of the Ebola epidemic in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri and on the instructions of the President of the Republic at the meeting of 27 April 2019, Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala Nzenzhe and the Minister of Health, Dr. Oly Ilunga Kalenga, signed on Tuesday, April 30, 2019, the decree establishing, organizing and operating the multisectoral committee for the response of the Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• This Committee's mission is to:
1. Oversee the multi-sectoral response to the current Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri;
2. Formulate the necessary measures to be taken at government level;
3. Collaborate with institutions at central, provincial and decentralized territorial entities to prevent the spread of the epidemic;
4. Propose the allocation of resources needed for the response to end the epidemic;
5. Ensure an optimal link between the overall response strategy and sectoral policies.
• The Committee meets once a week and whenever necessary, when convened by its Coordinator. He reports to the President of the Republic, once a week, and keeps him fully informed of the work, interventions and evolution of the epidemic.
• The Committee is composed of the Prime Minister, who is the Coordinator, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior and Security, the Minister of the Budget, the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Health who is the Secretary of the Committee, the Minister of Communication and Media, the Minister of Humanitarian Action and National Solidarity, the Minister of Social Affairs, and a representative of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic. Each member of the Committee is responsible for the response in their area of activity.
• Each member of the Committee invites the experts and partners in the work of his sector of activity whenever necessary. These experts and partners will be able to integrate the technical commissions and take part in the work of each sector of activity.
• As a reminder, for the health pillar of the Ebola response, the Ministry of Health has created nine commissions, each led by a Ministry program or directorate. These nine commissions are:
1. Surveillance (General Directorate for Disease Control, DGLM)
2. Port of Entry Surveillance (National Hygiene Program at the Borders, PNHF)
3. Medical care (National Program of Emergencies and Humanitarian Actions, PNUAH, and the National Institute of Biomedical Research, INRB)
4. Logistics
5. Vaccination (Expanded Program on Immunization, PEV, and INRB)
6. Laboratory (INRB)
7. Infection Prevention and Control (Health Directorate of the DGLM)
8. Psychosocial care (National Mental Health Program)
9. Communication and Community Engagement (National Program for Communication and Health Promotion)
World Health Organization High-Level Mission in Butembo
• WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti concluded their visit to Butembo on Tuesday, 30 April 2019. This high-level visit took place only ten days after the murder of Dr. Richard Mouzoko, a WHO epidemiologist from Cameroon.
• Click here to read the WHO communiqué on this mission.
Vaccination
• Since the beginning of vaccination on August 8, 2018, 108,175 people have been vaccinated , including 29,182 in Katwa, 23,177 in Beni, 13,355 in Butembo, 6,973 in Mabalako, 4,862 in Mandima, 3,335 in Kalunguta, 3,070 in Goma, 2,729 in Oicha, 2,699 at Komanda, 1,915 at Vuhovi, 1,889 at Masereka, 1,748 at Kyondo, 1,630 at Kayina, 1,487 at Bunia, 1,357 at Karisimbi, 1,313 at Lubero, 1,047 at Musienene, 1,025 at Biena, 772 at Mutwanga, 690 at Rutshuru, 557 in Rwampara (Ituri), 527 in Nyankunde, 496 in Mangurujipa, 420 in Mambasa, 355 in Tchomia, 342 in Kirotshe, 333 in Lolwa, 254 in Alimbongo, 250 in Mweso, 245 in Kibirizi, 161 in Nyiragongo, 97 in Watsa (Haut-Uélé) and 13 in Kisangani.
• The only vaccine to be used in this outbreak is the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine, manufactured by the pharmaceutical group Merck, following approval by the Ethics Committee in its decision of 19 May 2018.
WEEKLY SUMMARY OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA
Week 17 (April 22-28, 2019)
For the week of April 22-28, 2019, we recorded:
• 1,588 suspected cases investigated and tested in the laboratory
• 126 new confirmed cases :
• The city of Butembo remains the main focus of the epidemic. Together, the two areas of the city, namely Butembo and Katwa, reported half of the new cases (64 cases out of 126, or 50.8%).
• 83 deaths of confirmed cases:
• The town of Butembo is also the main focus of confirmed case fatalities reported last week. The health zones of Butembo and Katwa together reported 53 of the 83 new confirmed case deaths, or 63.9%;
• Of the 83 deaths, 47 were community deaths, or 56.6%, and 36 occurred in an ETC.
• 24 new healed people left the CTE.
