The Ebola outbreak is now the largest ever recorded in the DRC, with 319 cases

Authorities reported today 7 new cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), bringing the total outbreaks to 319 confirmed or probable cases, thus making the epidemic in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri the largest in its history. [19659002] "On Friday, November 9, 2018, the Ebola outbreak in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri exceeded that of the first outbreak in 1976 in Yambuku, Equateur Province. "said Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga, MD, in an update from the DRC Ministry of Health.

"No other epidemic in the world has been as complex as the one we are currently experiencing," added Kalenga. "Since their arrival in the region, the intervention teams have faced threats, physical badaults, repeated destruction of their equipment and kidnappings." Two of our colleagues from the medical unit of the United States said: Rapid intervention have even lost their lives in an attack. "

Even with the heavy use of Merck's vaccine against the Ebola virus, the virus has kept the region captive, as retaliatory efforts have been slowed by violent skirmishes and community resistance over the past three years month.

Seven new deaths, 52 suspected cases

In total, 198 people died during this epidemic, 7 more than the DRC reported yesterday. According to WHO data, 52 suspect cases are still under investigation, up from 40 yesterday.

In a recently released update, the WHO stated that substantial progress had been made in the fight against the epidemic, while recognizing that "it remains a difficult road to go through to control transmission. intense in the city of Beni and emerging hot spots in the villages around Beni and Butembo. "

From October 31 to November 6, the authorities recorded 29 new cases, including 15 in Beni and 7 in Butembo. 4 in Kalunguta, 2 in Mabalako and 1 in Vuhov. Today, one of the new cases has been recorded in the health zone of Kyondo, located near Butembo.

Although no case has crossed the borders of the DRC, the WHO said the risk of international spread remains high.

"The risk of an epidemic In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as in neighboring countries, the number of reported cases of alert in South Sudan, Uganda and Yemen has been very high during last week EVD [Ebola virus disease] was alerted until all alerts were excluded, "said WHO.

FDA approves Ebola finger test

Meanwhile, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced an Emergency Use Permit (EUA) for a new Ebola finger test results. The single-use test uses a portable battery-operated reader, which makes it useful for testing outside laboratories and in remote areas, the agency said in a press release.

The test, called the Ebola Antigen DPP System, is the second fastest Ebola test on the market.

"This EUA is part of the agency's ongoing efforts to help mitigate future and potential threats by making potentially preventative, diagnostic or therapeutic medical products available as quickly as possible." Said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD in a press release.

"We are determined to help the people of the DRC effectively cope with and end the current Ebola outbreak by allowing the first test with a portable reader, we hope for better arming health care providers in the field to more quickly detect the virus in patients and improve outcomes for patients. "

The FDA did not specify the accuracy of the test nor did it provided the data that led to the EUA.

December Jeremy Youde, Ph.D., badociate professor of international relations at the Australian National University, wrote in the Washington Pos how the US federal government withdrew ground support in the DRC in mid-October. Youde quotes an badyst who describes the movement as "post-Benghazi repugnance linked to the risk aversion of the US government".

Despite the arguments of the CDC's director, Robert Redfield, on the contrary, the federal government stated that it was too dangerous to keep American workers on the ground. Other countries, including Canada and Britain, have staff in the region, like the Gates Foundation.

You state that, even though US participation would not end the epidemic, withdrawal of aid creates a dangerous precedent for America.

See also:

Update of the situation in the DRC on November 9

Notice from the WHO outbreak of November 8

FDA press release

November 8 Washington Post article