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Weekly Bulletin on Outbreaks and other Emergencies: Week 7: 12- 18 February 2024 (Data as reported by: 17:00; 18 February 2024)

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Overview

This Weekly Bulletin focuses on public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African region. This week’s articles cover:

Malaria in Ethiopia Measles in Uganda Floods in the Democratic Republic of the Congo For each of these events, a brief description, followed by public health measures implemented and an interpretation of the situation is provided.
A table is provided at the end of the bulletin with information on all new and ongoing public health events currently being monitored in the region, as well as recent events that have been controlled and closed.

Major issues and challenges include:

Ethiopia has been grappling with malaria outbreak since 2022. Despite collaborative efforts from the Government and its partners to control it. Malaria prevention and control efforts are facing significant challenges stemming from various factors within the political, social, economic, and natural factors. For instance, the ongoing internal conflict in certain regions of the country has impacted the healthcare system, displacement of healthcare workers, damage to and non-functionality of health facilities. Additionally, road blockades have impeded the last-mile delivery of anti-malarial medications and other essential supplies. Natural hazards like droughts and floods exacerbate the situation, alongside other disease outbreaks including cholera, measles, dengue fever, and COVID-19.

The humanitarian situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has reached critical levels as the situation worsens due to intensified clashes and recent flooding that have resulted in widespread displacement and escalating risks the already vulnerable population. The response efforts underscore the importance of rapid, coordinated actions across various sectors to address the immediate needs of the population and to mitigate further health risks. Henceforth, it is crucial to enhance disaster preparedness and resilience among vulnerable communities, focusing on sustainable solutions to mitigate the impact of future natural disasters.