On 17 August 2012, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of an
outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in the Isiro and Dungu Health Zones of
Province Orientale in Eastern DRC. A total of 10 suspected cases (9 in Isiro
and 1 in Dungu) and 6 deaths (5 deaths in Isiro and 1 in Dungu) have been
reported.
Laboratory
investigations conducted at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI),
Entebbe, Uganda, confirmed Ebola virus (Bundibugyo species). Three samples
taken from two patients turned out positive for Ebola. A National Task Force
convened by the Congolese Ministry of Health, is working with several partners
including WHO, MSF and CDC. A joint MoH, WHO and MSF emergency response team
are in the field to conduct a detailed epidemiological investigation and case
management.
WHO is
supporting the Ministry of Health in the areas of coordination, surveillance,
epidemiology, laboratory, case management, logistics for outbreak, public
information and social mobilization. An additional team of experts from Congo,
DRC and IST/Gabon comprised of an epidemiologist, a logistician, an
anthropologist and social mobilisation officers are being mobilized for
possible deployment in the field. Control activities that are being carried
include active case finding and contact tracing, enhanced surveillance, case
management, public information and social mobilization and reinforcing
infection control practices.
WHO does not
recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied to Democratic
Republic of Congo.
Source: WHO
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