H5N1

DRC Ebola: Ten new cases, four new deaths, and a mass for Dr. Mouzoko Kibound

The Ministry of Health has published EBOLA DRC - Evolution of the response to the Ebola outbreak in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri on Saturday, April 20, 2019. Excerpt from the Google translation:

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE PROVINCES OF NORTH KIVU AND ITURI 

Saturday, April 20, 2019   

The epidemiological situation of the Ebola Virus Disease  dated April 19, 2019:   

• Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,327, of which 1,261 are confirmed and 66 are probable. In total, there were 859 deaths (793 confirmed and 66 probable) and 387 people cured. 

• 250 suspected cases under investigation; 

• 10 new confirmed cases, including 3 in Katwa, 2 in Butembo, 2 in Kalunguta, 1 in Masereka, 1 in Vuhovi, and 1 in Beni;  

• 4 new confirmed case deaths, including 

º 3 community deaths, including 1 in Katwa, 1 in Kalunguta and 1 in Vuhovi; 

º 1 death at the CTE of Butembo; 

• 4 new cures, including 2 from the CTE of Beni and 2 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 

Mass of thanksgiving in memory of Dr. Richard Mouzoko in Butembo 

• A Mass of thanksgiving was held this Saturday, April 20, 2019 at the Butembo hostel in memory of the Cameroonian epidemiologist deployed by WHO, Dr. Richard Mouzoko Kibound, who died the day before in an attack on health clinics. the Catholic University of Graben (UCG). This mass was said by the chaplain of UCG University Clinics, Father Christian Tandari, who revealed that if God reminded him of Dr. Richard Mouzoko on Good Friday, it is to show that Richard is good in Christ and like Christ as a physician, Richard gave his life for his brothers, men. The body of the deceased arrived this afternoon in Goma from which he will be repatriated to his country of origin. 

º Dr Aruna, National Response Coordinator, on behalf of the Minister of Health, regretted this act and urged members of the national and international response not to give in to discouragement, but rather to continue their efforts until the end. at the end of this epidemic in order to honor the memory of their missing colleague.  

• In addition, another attack took place this Saturday around 3 am in the Katwa sub-coordination office located at the Katwa Reference General Hospital. This attack was mastered by the police in Katwa and the death toll is a dead assailant and three wounded still on the side of the attackers.    

Vaccination  

• Since the beginning of vaccination on August 8, 2018, 104,232 persons have been vaccinated , including 28,056 in Katwa, 22,547 in Beni, 12,656 in Butembo, 6,740 in Mabalako, 4,408 in Mandima, 3,150 in Kalunguta, 3,070 in Goma, 2,569 in Oicha, 2,537 at Komanda, 1,845 at Vuhovi, 1,774 at Masereka, 1,649 at Kyondo, 1,630 at Kayina, 1,487 at Bunia, 1,357 at Karisimbi, 1,193 at Lubero, 1,027 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, 333 in Lolwa, 342 in Kirotshe, 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.

DRC Ebola: Yet another attack today, this one on Katwa General Hospital

Via Radio Moto Butembo-Beni: Attack pushed back to KATWA: 1 militiaman killed, 1 injured and 3rd arrested. The Google translation:

Police presented the death toll of a killed militiaman, another wounded and a third captured in clashes between FARDC and Mai-Mai during the attack attempt at the KATWA reference general hospital on Saturday morning. April 20th. Two suspects were arrested in MALIHI cell at VIGHOLE district in MUSUSA commune. 

According to the concordantes, the alleged militia killed would be a moto taxi driver in Butembo. Meanwhile, natural and legal persons are threatened with attack by strangers. Through leaflets abandoned as they pass, these unidentified people ask their targets not to raise awareness about Ebola, which they say does not exist. In the absence of respect for this warning, these strangers promise to torment those who do not obey their desire.  

This situation sows terror and panic to legal entities targeted by these leaflets, including Butembo's politico-administrative and religious authorities as well as the media involved in the response to Ebola. 

This afternoon, Saturday, the shots strike at the site of the ITAV. These blows would be related to the tracking of the militia by the police.

DRC Ebola: 15 new cases, 12 deaths (8 in community), and a murder today

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 Friday, April 19, 2019. It makes for grim reading. Excerpt from the Google translation:

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION IN THE PROVINCES OF NORTH KIVU AND ITURI 

Friday, April 19, 2019   

The epidemiological situation of the Ebola Virus Disease  dated April 18, 2019:   

• Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,317, of which 1,251 are confirmed and 66 are probable. In total, there were 855 deaths (789 confirmed and 66 probable) and 383 people cured. 

• 293 suspected cases under investigation; 

• 15 new confirmed cases, 11 in Katwa, 1 in Butembo, 1 in Mandima, 1 in Masereka and 1 in Kalunguta;  

• 12 new confirmed cases, including 

º 8 community deaths, 7 in Katwa and 1 in Masereka; 

º 4 deaths at CTE, including 3 in Butembo and 1 in Katwa; 

3 new cures, 2 of which came out of Mabalako CTE and 1 from Butembo CTE.   

/! \  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 

Armed attack at Clinics of the Catholic University of Graben (UCG) 

• This Friday, April 19, 2019, a Cameroonian epidemiologist deployed by the World Health Organization, Dr. Richard MOUZOKO KIBOUNG, died of his wounds during an attack at clinics at the Catholic University of Graben, Butembo. Dr. Richard was the coordinator of the response in the Vutsundo health area. He was chairing a meeting with his team when three armed men burst into the room and opened fire on the teams. A local doctor and a driver were also injured in the attack. The attackers also burned vehicles and the yard built at the entrance of the hospital.

Vaccination  

• Since the beginning of vaccination on August 8, 2018, 103,451 people have been vaccinated , including 27,595 in Katwa, 22,443 in Beni, 12,513 in Butembo, 6,715 in Mabalako, 4,375 in Mandima, 3,150 in Kalunguta, 3,070 in Goma, 2,569 in Oicha, 2,537 at Komanda, 1,845 at Vuhovi, 1,759 at Masereka, 1,649 at Kyondo, 1,630 at Kayina, 1,487 at Bunia, 1,357 at Karisimbi, 1,193 at Lubero, 1,027 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, 333 in Lolwa, 342 in Kirotshe, 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.

WHO Ebola responder killed in attack on the Butembo hospital

University Clinic of the Graben Catholic University (UCG) / Ph ACTUALITE.CD

A statement from WHO: WHO Ebola responder killed in attack on the Butembo hospital.

Today, Dr Richard Valery Mouzoko Kiboung, an epidemiologist deployed by WHO in the response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was killed in an attack on Butembo University Hospital. Two other persons were injured in the attack but are believed to be in a stable condition. 

“I and all of WHO are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and brother Dr Mouzoko. He put himself on the frontline to save lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “We grieve with his family and friends at this very difficult time.”  

“This is a tragic reminder of the risks health workers take every day to protect the lives and health of others. We are outraged by this attack: health workers and health facilities must never be targets.” 

The attack took place during a coordination meeting being held at the hospital at that time.  

“We are assessing the security situation to ensure the safety of all patients, health workers and Ebola responders”, said Dr Tedros. “At the same time, we remain committed to continue supporting the Ministry of Health of DRC to end this outbreak as quickly as possible.”

See also this Reuters report.

DRC Ebola: One person killed and three huts burned by armed men in the village of DRO

Via Radio Moto Butembo-Beni: DJUGU: One person killed and three huts burned by armed men in the village of DRO. This is not an Ebola area, but violence seems to have increased in the whole region. The Google translation:

Assailants armed with rifles raided the village of DRO in BAHEMA-North in Djugu territory of Ituri province. It was night from Wednesday 17 to Thursday 18 April 2019. 

As a result, one person killed, three burnt huts. This situation was at the base of the uprising of the population in this entity all the day of Thursday, April 18, 2019. Red of anger, this population went down in the street. A fringe of the inhabitants of DRO has even decided to go on the hunt for thugs. These people managed to capture one of these assailants and burn another alive. But many of these bandits had already escaped, continues our same source.  

Moreover, this same Thursday, the body of a 12-year-old girl was found dead on the shores of Lake Edward. Nothing is yet known about the reasons for the death of this young citizen.

Attacks on hospital in Ebola zone kill Cameroonian doctor

Via Reuters: Attacks on hospital in Ebola zone kill Cameroonian doctor. Another source says the doctor was from Guinea. Excerpt:

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Attacks on a hospital at the epicenter of Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola outbreak have killed a Cameroonian doctor and injured several others, the local mayor said on Friday.  

Two separate attacks on Thursday and Friday targeted the hospital in the city of Butembo, one of the locations where the second-largest Ebola epidemic in history is spreading at its fastest rate since being declared last August, said Mayor Sylvain Kanyamanda.  

World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed on Twitter that one person had died and others had been injured at the hospital. He did not identify the deceased.

DRC: New attack on Ebola response team in Butembo (updated)

Via Actualite.cd: DRC: New attack on Ebola response team in Butembo. The Google translation: 

Armed men conducted a new attack on Friday 19 April 2019 against the university clinic of the Catholic University of Graben (UCG) in Butembo located Malende district in the commune of Kimemi. This clinic hosts an Ebola response team that triage cases of the disease.  

The attack began at 1400 hours and lasted at least half an hour. 

"They surprised the team of response (against Ebola, Ed) in full meeting. The shots lasted between 30 and 45 minutes. We are in our hiding places with patients. They have just burned a vehicle of the response. A doctor assigned to the response has been shot. He is in the emergency room right now. But the police and the army come to intervene. The shooting stopped. We're going to be out of this world," says Achille Mukekya, trainee ophthalmologist at the clinic.  

The Ebola Response Team has been working at the clinic for a long time, but it has been a month since its case triage services have been installed there.  

The University Clinic of Graben Catholic University organizes several services including ophthalmology, physiotherapy and cardiology. 

Update: I've just learned via Twitter that the doctor who was killed was from Cameroon.

Attack at UCG / BUTEMBO university clinics: Doctor killed and several other injuries recorded

Radio Moto Butembo-Beni

Via Radio Moto Butembo-Beni: Attack at UCG / BUTEMBO university clinics: doctor killed and several other injuries recorded.

Diurnal attack of the Clinics of the Catholic University of Graben, UCG the day of this Holy Friday at 14h local time. The unidentified militiamen have just killed a foreign doctor, burned a truckload of health workers, burned the marshalling yard and caused other material damage. 

These clinics are located in Butembo in Malende district in Kimemi commune. They host an Ebola response team that triage cases of the disease. This attack comes after strangers signed an incursion on the night of Thursday, April 18 to Friday, April 19 to the community of priests of UCG Butembo. 

DRC Ebola: Butembo hospital attacked; one death

I just saw this tweet from Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus:

This is a very sad day. We just learned of one fatality, as well as some people injured, in the attack on hospital in Butembo, #DRC. Butembo is the epicenter of the ongoing #Ebola outbreak. Health workers are working around the clock to save lives. Health workers are #NotATarget.

US: Flying while armed and dangerous

Via bioRxiv: The Rising Prevalence of Weapons in Unsafe Arming Configurations Discovered in American Airports: the Increasing Practice of Storage and Carry of Firearms with a Round Chambered. The abstract:

Background 

Recent studies have shown that Americans appear to be increasingly owning and carrying firearms for personal protection, and are increasingly storing their firearms loaded. However, the prevalence of firearm carry and/or storage with a round chambered has not hitherto been studied; in this arming configuration the weapon is loaded, with a bullet resting against the firing pin, ready to fire if the trigger is pulled. Ostensibly this decreases reaction time in a threat situation, but carries an increased risk of accidental discharge. It is unknown what fraction of firearm owners typically carry or store their firearms in this configuration, and if there have been significant temporal trends in the practice. 

Objective 

We examine firearms detected at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport security checkpoints between 2012 to 2017, to examine geospatial and temporal trends in the prevalence of unsafe arming configuration in detected firearms. 

Results 

The fraction of detected firearms found to be loaded has risen significantly since 2012 (Beta Binomial logistic regression p = 0.011). States with firearm child access prevention laws have significantly fewer firearms found by the TSA to be loaded (p = 0.039). The fraction of loaded firearms found by the TSA to also have a round chambered has also risen significantly since 2012 (Beta Binomial logistic regression p<0.001). By 2017, 36% of firearms found loaded were also found to have a round chambered, representing an apparent concerning trend in unsafe arming configurations during carry and storage. 

Conclusions 

Americans appear to be increasingly using and storing firearms in unsafe arming configurations. TSA firearm detection data can potentially provide a key source of data when researching trends in firearm injury.