Health authorities have declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Bikoro District in Equateur Province. Since the beginning of April, at least 34 suspected, probable or confirmed cases have been identified. Eighteen people have died, one of whom was a confirmed Ebola case. Three of the 34 known cases are healthcare workers. So far, two cases have been confirmed as EVD by the Ministry of Health. Around 75 contacts are under surveillance.
Note that the Ministry of Health case counts relate to the period after 8 May 2018 while WHO counts extend into April and will therefore be higher.
The strain involved in the confirmed cases has been identified as Ebola Zaire virus, the same strain that caused previous outbreaks in DRC. One death has also been confirmed positive for EVD. Other test results are pending. Cases are located around the Ikoko-Impenge (also known as Ikoko-Iponge) health facility, about 30 km from Bikoro. In addition, suspected and probable cases have been reported from Ingende and Iboko Districts. A multidisciplinary response team from the World Health Organization, Medecins Sans Frontieres and the Ministry of Health are in the area. An Ebola Treatment Centre is being established. There are reports that Ebola vaccines may be deployed to help combat the spread of infection in DRC. Neighbouring countries have been alerted and some have implemented screening measures.
• Angolan authorities will increase surveillance of persons crossing into Luanda Sul province.
• Kenya is screening all travellers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Busia and Malaba border points for fever.
• Nigerian authorities have stepped up screening measures at all airports and land border points. All incoming travellers will be screened, particularly those from DRC and its neighbouring countries.
• Tanzania has also implemented thermal scanners at airports, border posts and other ports of entry.
Ebola is persistently present in the DRC. This is the ninth outbreak recorded since the discovery of the virus in 1976. In 2017, an outbreak in the northern part of the country was quickly contained as a result of a rapid and collaborative effort by local and national authorities and their international partners.
What is Ebola virus disease?
Ebola is a potentially severe illness, which kills about 50% of those infected. Wild animals initially spread the virus to humans. Once humans are infected, they can spread the disease to others and large outbreaks can occur. Ebola is present in the blood and/ body fluids of the infected person. It spreads when someone has contact with these fluids, which may happen when caring for a sick person or through certain funeral practices such as communal washing of the body. This is how household members, friends and healthcare workers are exposed to the virus.
Symptoms develop between 2 and 21 days after someone is exposed to infected bodily fluids. Initial symptoms are sudden fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. Vomiting, diarrhoea, rash and abdominal pain follow in most cases. Some people progress to organ failure and bleeding, both internally and externally, which leads to death.
Supportive treatment (such as intravenous fluids and managing secondary infections) increase a person's chance of survival, especially if medical care is given early in the illness.
Ebola outbreaks are controlled through public health measures, such as isolating and treating infected people promptly, monitoring contacts for symptoms and isolating them immediately if they develop, strict handling of infectious materials, and safe burials.
Ebola can also be transmitted by survivors of the disease through unprotected sexual contact.