Democratic Republic of Congo – Epidemics (DG ECHO, WHO, authorities) (ECHO Daily Flash of 20 May 2022)

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has a very high infectious disease burden and is prone to recurrent epidemics that require emergency support and create additional humanitarian needs.

The country is currently dealing with outbreaks of cholera, Ebola, measles, monkey pox, plague, yellow fever and vaccine-derived polio. A fifth wave of COVID-19 seems to emerge.

Part of disease control efforts for these various outbreaks is vaccination against cholera, polio, yellow fever, Ebola, measles, monkey pox and COVID-19.

The DRC has also been selected as a priority country for the new malaria vaccine for children at risk.

Three Ebola cases have been confirmed in one health zone in Mbandaka city in Equateur province between 23 April and 4 May 2022 and all three died. Isolation and testing of suspected cases and other control measures are ongoing and carried out by national and international response teams.