Brazzaville, 15 April 2013-- From 22 to 28 April, African countries will celebrate the third African Vaccination Week (AVW), an initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and implemented by countries in the region.

For seven days, all Member States of WHO in the African Region – island states, landlocked countries and those in coastal regions – will be busy organizing a range of activities including high-level immunization campaigns and public education and information-sharing events in observance of the third edition of the African Vaccination Week.

Introduction

In this issue, a general overview of outbreaks that occurred within the WHO African Region between January and December 2012 is provided as well as a summary of ongoing outbreaks as reported by the Member States.

30 November 2012 - As of 28 November 2012, the Ministry of Health in Uganda reported 7 cases (6 confirmed, 1 probable) with Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Luweero and Kampala districts. Of these cases, 4 died.

17 NOVEMBER 2012 - The Ministry of Health (MoH) of Uganda has notified WHO of an outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Luweero district in Central Uganda.

Four cases, including 3 fatal, have been reported. Samples were taken from two cases, for which laboratory confirmation of Ebola virus (species Sudan) was made by PCR and serology tests at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) in Entebbe.

Brazzaville, Congo: 27 October 2012 – As the Sahel food crisis persists, compounded by recent flooding in the region, the World Health Organization (WHO) has appealed to health and development partners to support affected countries prioritize de-worming activities as part of urgent relief efforts.

"Flooding now being experienced in parts of the Sahel, creates the ideal breeding ground for contracting Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) such as bilharzia, and worm-like diseases putting more at risk of malnutrition,” says WHO African Regional Director Dr Luis Gomes Sambo.

22 October 2012 - As of 21 October 2012, nine (9) probable and confirmed cases, including 5 deaths have been reported with Marburg haemorrhagic fever in Kitumba sub-county, Kabale district in South-western Uganda. Of these, 3 have been laboratory confirmed by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI).

An investigation into the outbreak is ongoing. Preliminary investigations indicate that all these cases belong to the same cluster – family and relatives of the index case.

WHO is supporting the Ministry of Health and partners in controlling the outbreak.

4 OCTOBER 2012 - The Ministry of Health (MoH), Uganda has declared today, the end of the Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF) outbreak in Kibaale district. The last case was confirmed on 3 August 2012 and was discharged from the hospital on 24 August 2012. This is double the maximum incubation period (21 days) for Ebola as recommended by WHO. In the outbreak, a total of 24 probable and confirmed cases were recorded, of which 11 were laboratory confirmed by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) in Entebbe. A total of 17 deaths were reported in this outbreak.

3 September 2012 -- The Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to work with partners to control the outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever. As of 1 September 2012, a total of 25 (17 probable, 8 confirmed) cases and 18 deaths had been reported from Haute Uelé district in the Province Orientale.

A total of 24 cases and 17 deaths (CFR: 71%) were reported from Kibaale districts

Event description

As of 27 August 2012, a total of 24 probable and confirmed cases and 17 deaths have been re-ported from Kibaale district.

There are currently no suspected, confirmed and probable cases in the isolation unit. The last confirmed case who is a health worker was discharged on Friday 24 August 2012. No other admissions and no new suspected since then.