DRC announces case of Ebola near the Ugandan border

The health authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) today confirmed a case of Ebola virus on the Ugandan border, about 200 kilometers from the nearest known case in the country's current epidemic in the province North Kivu.

According to Reuters, the case was reportedly reported in Tchomia, on the shores of Lake Albert, the closest disease in Uganda during the outbreak. Tchomia is in Djugu territory, where violent ethnic clashes have led to massive migration across the Ugandan border.

Yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that no case of Ebola had been detected in Uganda, despite more than 100 investigations of suspicious diseases. But Uganda, with the help of WHO, is preparing to implement a ring vaccination strategy in the coming months to protect health workers. About 3,000 doses of Merck's Ebola vaccine will be sent to cold chain compartments in Uganda, the WHO said in a press release.

"Ebola is a very aggressive and deadly disease. The opportunity to vaccinate front-line health workers and ring vaccination helps to control the disease as soon as it is confirmed when the cause is Ebola Zaire in a country. we are making all these expensive but necessary preparations, "said Yonas Tegegn Woldermariam, MD, WHO Representative in Uganda.

The WHO reported that there are 22 high-risk border districts between DRC and Uganda and that health ministry officials in each country have strengthened cross-border surveillance.

New case in Butembo

Yesterday, the DRC Ministry of Health announced the eighth confirmed case of Ebola in Butembo, a major city in the east of the country. The new case brings to 143 the total number of cases (112 confirmed), including 97 deaths.

Butembo, along with Beni, have become new hot spots for disease activity, according to the latest update of the WHO epidemic.

"The situation in Mangina (health zone of Mabalako) is stabilizing," said WHO. Since September 12, the five new Ebola cases detected have come from active transmission chains in Butembo and Beni.

The DRC confirmed that 10,663 people had been vaccinated against Ebola, including 3,935 in Mabalako, 3,409 in Beni, 1,582 in Mandima, 814 in Butembo, 373 in Katwa, 270 in Masereka, 121 in Oicha, 94 in Kinshasa. Vaccination started on August 8th. The epidemic began on August 1 in Mangina. The WHO reported that 4,008 health workers and 2,362 children are included in the total number of vaccines.

As of 18 September, WHO had indicated that nine suspected cases were waiting for laboratory tests. Currently, 8 vaccination rings have been identified, in addition to 24 rings of health workers and other front-line workers. These rings include contacts (and their contacts) of all confirmed cases from the last 4 weeks, the WHO said.

"Important risks for the spread of the disease remain," said WHO. "Persistent problems include lost contacts, late recognition of illness in health centers, prevention and control of infections in health centers and reluctance to treat some Ebola treatment centers."

Adults aged 35-44 account for 23% of the cases in this epidemic (based on information from 135 patients, most of them (56%) were women, nineteen health workers were infected, three of whom died).

The ongoing challenge is the turbulent situation of the epidemic, health officials said. Some communities refused medical assistance and were reluctant to implement preventive measures.

See also:

September 21st History of Reuters

Sep 20 WHO press release

Sep 20 Update on the DRC

Sep 20 Update of the WHO