Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

DR Congo + 1 more

Ebola Virus Disease - Democratic Republic of the Congo: External Situation Report 6 (20 May 2017)

Attachments

1. Situation update

WHO, UN Agencies, International organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and partners continue to support the Ministry of Health in the Democratic Republic of Congo to rapidly investigate and respond to the outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Likati Health Zone, Bas Uele Province located in the north-east of the country.

On 19 May 2017, two suspected EVD cases and one death were reported from Nambwa and Muma health areas in Likati Health Zone. The suspected cases are being investigated and will be classified accordingly. As of 19 May 2017, a total of 34 EVD cases and four deaths been reported. To date, four deaths have been reported, giving a case fatality rate of 12%. The reported cases are from five health areas, namely Nambwa (12 cases and three deaths), Muma (three cases and no deaths), Ngayi (14 cases and one death), Azande (two cases and no deaths), and Ngabatala (three cases and no deaths). Most of the cases presented with fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea and other bleeding symptoms and signs. The outbreak currently remains confined to Likati Health Zone. According to available information at this stage, no healthcare workers have been affected.

Out of the five blood samples analysed at the national reference laboratory, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in Kinshasa, two were confirmed Zaire ebolavirus. Aliquot samples were sent to the WHO Collaborating Centre for Arboviruses and Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers at the Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), in Gabon that confirmed the two confirmed cases among the five initial samples. Gene sequencing analysis is ongoing.

On 19 May 54 contacts completed daily contact monitoring and 362 remain under follow up in Likati Health Zone and are being monitored on a daily basis.

This EVD outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo was notified to WHO by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on 11 May 2017. The cluster of cases and deaths of previously unidentified illness have been reported since late April 2017. Likati Health Zone shares borders with two provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and with the Central African Republic (Fig. 1). The affected areas are remote and hard to reach, with limited communication and transport networks.