Ebola in the DRC: 100 confirmed cases

According to the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) update on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in North Kivu, the number of confirmed outbreak cases has reached 100%.

In addition, 31 other probable cases are reported. Of the 100 confirmed cases, 58 died, 35 were cured and 7 were hospitalized.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Oly Ilunga Kalenga, held a press conference in Kinshasa this Saturday, September 8, 2018 to take stock of the first month of the response to the Ebola outbreak in the province North Kivu.

Here are the key points of the press conference:

• The process of genetic sequencing of the virus by the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) has confirmed that the strains of the virus responsible for the two epidemics reported this year in the Democratic Republic of Congo are different, although both belong to the species Ebola Zaire.
• The spread of the virus has been controlled in Mangina, which is the epicenter of the current epidemic. However, the Ndindi District Community Resistance Center in Beni slowed response efforts, recording 71% (17/24) of the last confirmed cases. The last confirmed cases in the neighboring areas of Butembo and Masereka are related to these cases of resistance in Beni who refused follow-up contacts and vaccination.
• The resistance of the community forced the coordination of the response to review its strategy in the city of Beni by directly involving the community leaders, gathered in the local coordination. This strategy has borne fruit and community leaders have convinced the family to cooperate with the health authorities. Members of this family, considered contacts, finally agreed to be vaccinated.
• The security situation in North Kivu province remains a matter of concern, but so far it has not prevented the response teams from doing their job and reaching the areas affected by the epidemic.
• Regarding medical management, 26 patients were treated with mAb 114, Zmapp or Remdesivir. Of these 26 patients, 15 are cured and have left the Ebola Treatment Center (ETC), 6 have died and 5 are hospitalized.

The surveillance teams continue to follow the contacts of the last confirmed cases in the health zones of Butembo, Masereka and Kalunguta. A total of 5,156 contacts have been recorded in the 7 health zones affected since 17 August 2018.

Since the start of the vaccination on August 8, 2018, 7,069 people have been vaccinated including 3,435 in Mabalako, 2130 in Beni, 1117 Mandima Oicha 121 to 107 in Butembo, Katwa 70, 70 and 19 in Masereka Kinshasa (medical personnel to deploy) ).

Related: