DRC – The Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has partnered with WHO and other development partners to launch response measures to control the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak and prevent its spread.
On 2st August 2022, the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced that a new laboratory-confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) had been detected in Beni health zone in the province of North Kivu.
The MoH of the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced that investigations are underway including identifying the source of contamination, contacts, contacts of contacts and defining the risks of exposure at the different departments of the hospital.
The ministry disclosed that a total of 134 hospital contacts specifically 60 health care personnel and 74 co-patients have been identified while nine family contacts have also been identified.
The ministry further said that there are ongoing investigations by response teams in the health facility where the patient was being treated as well as in the community.
The re-emergence of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a major public health concern in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and there are still gaps in the country’s capacity to recover, prepare and respond to outbreaks.
In addition, the Ministry of Health is working closely with partners to strengthen infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in health care settings and affected communities in order to prevent patients and health workers from being harmed by avoidable infection.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is building on local capacities at the health zone level particularly outbreak control interventions are being organized in the field involving case investigation, contact tracing and strengthening of surveillance system.
The Government of the DRC and partners have also collaborated on isolation of suspected cases and providing care, laboratory confirmation, IPC measures in health facilities as well as community engagement and social mobilization.
Other EVD response interventions include strong engagement with communities focusing on EVD prevention, early recognition of symptoms, care seeking and vaccination as well as case investigations specifically active case search and contact tracing activities.
In addition, the MoH of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in collaboration with WHO and other partners has re-activated the alert system and activated points of control at key border crossings while partnering on strengthening the functional laboratory in Beni.
The government agency and partners have agreed on preparation for ring vaccination using the Ervebo licensed vaccine and targeting contacts of the confirmed case and their contacts along with frontline workers.
Furthermore, the International Coordinating Group for Vaccine Provision approved the use of the remaining doses available in country hence vaccines are being shipped to Goma and Beni while the ultra-cold chain is being assessed and set-up as needed.
The Government of the DRC highlighted that treatment course of monoclonal antibodies are available in country, noting that there is on-going assessment and rehabilitation of Beni Ebola Treatment Centre and strengthening of screening, triage and isolation capacities of other health facilities.
In addition, IPC measures have been initiated including decontamination of health facilities, assessment and support to health facilities and training of health care workers on implementation of IPC measures as well as water and sanitation rehabilitation.
Liked this article? Sign up to receive our regular email newsletters, focused on Africa and World’s healthcare industry, directly into your inbox. SUBSCRIBE HERE
