[ad_1]
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), new cases of Ebola and attacks on the response have continued, with 15 new diseases reported and one case of vandalism in a hospital in Katwa.
Meanwhile, South Korea announced today a plan to provide $ 500,000 in humanitarian assistance for the response to Ebola. A group analyzing humanitarian events warned that intensifying attacks near areas affected by the Ebola virus could displace more people and facilitate the spread of the disease. .
Confirmed case in the new health zone
The fifteen new cases came from seven different locations, including Alimbongo, a newly affected health zone in North Kivu province, the ministry said in its daily update. He added that a thorough investigation was underway to identify where the patient had contracted the virus. The new cases increase the total number of outbreaks to 1,720, and the authorities are still investigating 293 suspected cases of Ebola.
One of the new diseases concerns a health worker who was vaccinated less than 10 days ago, before the immune system could protect against the virus. So far, 102 health workers have been ill during the epidemic.
Twelve others died of Ebola, four in community centers and eight in Ebola treatment centers. Developments push the number of fatalities to 1,136.
The ministry also said that the triage area of the Katwa Reference General Hospital was vandalized by strangers at 2am this morning.
The ministry said the attackers threw stones and burned tarps.
The security incident that occurred today follows an attempted militia assault against the Katwa Ebola Treatment Center – also in the early morning hours – which killed the man. one of the attackers but did not cause any damage to the establishment.
Korean funds will help support the answer
In a statement, South Korea said the US $ 500,000 grant would help fund the DRC Ministry of Health's plan of action and 15 international organizations, including the United States. World Health Organization (WHO). He added that, given the outbreak of the DRC epidemic in its tenth month, the commitment and support of the international community are all the more necessary.
The donation is not the first in South Korea for Ebola. In 2014, the country sent a relief team in case of outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa. In 2018, he donated $ 1.5 million to the WHO emergency fund to combat Ebola in the DRC.
Threats to security, displacement
Since May, attacks and clashes between armed groups and security forces have displaced more than 12,000 people in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, representing more than 100,000 internally displaced persons in the province. North Kivu in April, according to an update published today by ACAPS. Non-governmental Norwegian non-profit group providing independent humanitarian analysis.
The group warned that attacks, particularly by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), have increased in recent months and may cause more displacement and increase humanitarian needs in North Kivu province. And they note that the increase in attacks occurs at a time when the transmission of Ebola is increasing.
Displacement in Ebola-affected areas could promote the spread of the disease, including the possibility that some people may pass through the border to Uganda, increasing the risk of spreading to other countries. other countries.
ACAPS stated that, although most Ebola cases are concentrated in the Katwa, Butembo and Beni regions, some health zones hosting displaced people have reported cases of Ebola, such as Kayna Health Zone. in the province of Ituri North. However, he notes that short-term localized shifts, common in eastern DRC, make it difficult to assess not only the risk of spread of the disease, but also the needs of the communities.
See also:
May 14 update of the DRC
Statement of the South Korean Government of May 14
May 14, ACAPS information note
[ad_2]
Source link