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In total, the total number of Ebola cases has increased from 19 cases over the weekend to today, with US government officials recently visiting the area affected by the outbreak expressing support for the outbreak. response to the outbreak, but also to the country's overall health system.
Over the weekend, a delegation from the US government, composed of the secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, Alex Azar, the director of control and disease prevention centers, Robert Redfield, and the director NAFID, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci, MD, visited an Ebola treatment center in Butembo.
Officials were accompanied by the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, PhD, and the coordinator of the United Nations Ebola Disease Emergency Response. United, David Gressly.
Officials share their impressions
According to a HHS press release, the group observed infection prevention and control measures, talked to health care providers about patient care, and heard Ebola workers and health workers talk about the challenges they face. are facing because of community mistrust and security issues in the region.
The visit will also include discussions with local community leaders, including representatives of a women's association, a trade group and cultural groups.
On September 14, Azar said in a statement that the United States recognized that alongside Ebola, the DRC was also fighting against other diseases, including measles, malaria, HIV, tuberculosis and cholera. with local and community leaders. At a community meeting, Azar said, "The United States is here for you, not just for Ebola, but also for health care after Ebola."
At a news media briefing with the media today, Azar and other US officials, including some members of the state department, shared their thoughts on the issue. visit. After observing the care provided to patients and meeting with health workers at the Ebola treatment center, Azar said, "I can not exaggerate the importance of both treatments." The drugs are Regeneron's REGN-EB3, an antibody cocktail, and mAB114, an antibody-based treatment developed from a DRC-survivor of the DRC virus. during an earlier epidemic.
Azar added that officials saw patients treated with the drugs coming out of the Ebola treatment unit after their convalescence. "It's a radical change from what we've been," he said.
Although epidemic responders are progressing, particularly with respect to community engagement, basic public health practices, such as contact tracing, are still not at the level of the community. where they should be, added Azar.
Redfield said that although some cases have declined in recent weeks, officials will not be confident about the trend as long as they will not see the key indicators change. He added that the proportion of deaths in the community is still too high and that the number of contacts and patients isolated early is still too low.
Prior to the visit to Butembo, senior US officials also met DRC President Felix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa as well as Jean-Jacques Muyembe, PhD, Chair of the DRC's Multisectoral Committee on Ebola (CMRE), as well as the new Minister of Health of the DRC. , Eteni Longondo, MD, MPH. Yesterday, the group went to Rwanda to meet with President Paul Kagame and other senior officials.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has already announced funding of nearly $ 158 million for the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, an aid that will also help Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda to strengthen their defenses against the virus.
New cases of smaller hot spots
Regarding epidemics, the DRC has confirmed 4 new cases today, bringing the total to 3,129 cases, according to figures on the WHO Ebola online dashboard. The authorities are still investigating 475 suspected cases.
Eighteen additional deaths have been reported in recent days, 2,095 people.
In updates released on 14 September and yesterday, the DRC's CMRE added more details on 15 of the most recent cases. Locations reflect ongoing activities in many of the smaller hotspots. They include Mandima (6 cases), Komanda (2), Mambasa (2), Biena (1), Kalunguta (1), Katwa (1), Kayna (1) and Oicha (1).
Of the 10 deaths covered by the two CMRE reports, 9 occurred in Ebola treatment centers and 1 in the Oicha community.
See also:
HHS Press Release 14 September
HHS Press Release 13 September
WHO online scorecard for Ebola
September 14 CMRE update
September 15th, CMRE update
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