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The last WHO External status report provides up-to-date details on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with a total of 785 cases reported in 18 health zones in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri at February 3, 2019. As of February 4, 484 deaths have been reported, with a case-fatality rate of 59% among confirmed cases.
The report indicates that the Ministry of Health, WHO and its partners continue to monitor and investigate all alerts in the affected areas, in other DRC provinces and in the countries neighbors. All alerts outside areas affected by the outbreak have been examined or laboratory tested to eliminate Ebola.
Anti-epidemic interventions are being implemented by the Ministry of Health and other national authorities in the DRC, as well as by WHO and its partners. These include intensified active case finding in health facilities and communities, contact tracing, and monitoring of alerts from areas affected by the outbreak.
A national IPC working group has been formed to provide strategic technical guidance and coordinate and oversee the various partners and infection prevention and control committees in health zones. A revised IPC strategy and an operational work plan are being developed for the period. From February to March 2019, many IPC activities are underway throughout the DRC, including: decontamination of households and health facilities with confirmed cases; information sessions and training of health care providers, including those working in private health facilities and traditional facilities; and distribution of IPC kits, which include consumable items such as personal protective equipment.
At present, WHO has advised against any travel restrictions in the DRC. He indicated that he was closely monitoring the situation and would check, if necessary, the measures taken to move.
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