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Following the violent attacks in Butembo in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that killed a World Health Organization (WHO) worker, two senior WHO officials today concluded a visit to the city, while cases continued in the country. epidemic, with 14 new cases reported.
Also today, African countries close to the DRC met today in Kampala to review their Ebola preparedness stages and develop new plans to prevent and counter the possible arrival of the virus in the world. inside their borders.
High level visit suggests deep concern
The visit of WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, and WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, MD, comes just 10 days after Dr. Richard Mouzoko, an epidemiologist at the World Health Organization. WHO, was killed in an armed attack during his work on the Ebola outbreak.
In a statement, they said they were deeply worried about the situation and acknowledged that recent outbreaks of infection are the result of setbacks whenever the response provokes violent attacks.
Most of the response activities – such as community engagement, immunization and case finding – resumed after a slowdown after the attacks that killed Mouzoko and injured two others, the WHO said. He notes, however, that the flood of cases in recent weeks weighs more heavily on resources.
Moeti said his pride and respect for the epidemics had increased. "They have gone through something unimaginable and are nevertheless willing to continue this vital work.We need the security situation to be controlled for them and for the local population."
The group met with Butembo's mayor, US Ambassador Michael Hammer, a representative of the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO), as well as other partners, as well as leaders from 39, business, religious and local politics.
WHO officials also urged the international community to step up its support to contain the epidemic, including filling funding gaps. Tedros said the answer required major changes. "WHO and its partners can not tackle these problems without the participation of the international community to fill the funding gap." He added that WHO had only received half of the aid requested, which could force health officials to reduce their activities when needed.
The number of new business increases to 1,480
At the same time, the Ministry of Health of the DRC has reported 14 new cases today, including 6 in Katwa, 2 in Musienene and 2 in Butembo. In addition, four other sites each reported a single case: Mabalako, Beni, Kayna and Kalunguta.
The newly confirmed cases bring the total number of outbreaks to 1,480, or 1,414 confirmed infections and 66 probable infections. Health officials are still investigating 279 suspected cases.
Thirteen others died from Ebola, six from community or hospital facilities in a wide range of current hot spots: Katwa, Musienene, Kayna and Beni. Seven others died in Ebola treatment centers, including four in Butembo and three in Katwa. The total number of deaths due to the epidemic is now 970.
Following a recent request from the DRC President, the Prime Minister and Minister of Health of the country, Oly Ilunga Kalenga, announced today the signing of a decree establishing and organizing a multisectoral committee to fight against Ebola. The committee's goal is to identify new steps the government should take to address the epidemic, coordinate with different levels of government, and help allocate resources to the response. It will meet weekly or more often as needed.
Regional leaders meet in Kampala
International partners working on Ebola preparedness and response also began today a two-day meeting in Kampala, Uganda's capital, to discuss key risk factors and challenges of the response. as well as to propose new solutions.
Jane Ruth Aceng, MBChB, MPH, the country's health minister, said in a press release from the WHO Uganda office that the growing complexity of the epidemic in the two DRC provinces presented a risk of spread in DRC and its neighbors. "This epidemic is not a problem only in the DRC," she said.
With representatives from nine countries, the group is expected to share information on their Ebola preparedness strategies and share information on their challenges and best practices. At the end of the meeting, the group will develop a common roadmap for preparation.
Among the concerns of the experts include the prevention and control of infections in health facilities and the deaths that continue to occur in communities, said the WHO.
However, the precarious security situation in the areas affected by the DRC is the main concern. Presenters from the DRC said that there were about 30 armed groups in the region of the epidemic, some of whom attacked Ebola treatment centers.
According to officials, the DRC's neighbors have reason to worry, given the long porous borders and frequent population movements.
See also:
April 30 Statement
April 30 update of the DRC
30 April Statement of the WHO African Regional Office
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