Dear All,

Please find below status update on the Ebola Outbreak in DRC.

Situation Report – Ebola Outbreak in DRC

Following the outbreak of Ebola in DRC Congo on the 8th of May 2018, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited the town of Bikoro

in the north-west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 13th May 2018, to assess the response to the current Ebola outbreak.

WHO has deployed experts and coordinating partners as well as providing supplies and equipment to provide life-saving care and support infection prevention and control.

WHO is working with the Ministry of Health to gather and test samples, conduct contact tracing and improve data collection and management.

The Democratic Republic of Congo Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga confirmed a case in Mbandaka, a city of a million people about 130km (80 miles) from the area where the first cases were confirmed earlier this month. The city is a major transportation hub with routes to the capital Kinshasa. The outbreak however is still considered to be under control.

WHO Risk Assessment

The outbreak cases are being reported from remote locations that are difficult to access.

However, the proximity of the affected area to the Congo River, which links to the Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic, increases the risk of cases occurring in neighboring countries.

Currently, WHO considers the public health risk to be high at the national level, moderate at the regional level, and low at the international level. As further information becomes available, the risk assessment will be reviewed.

WHO lists the risks to surrounding countries as moderate. WHO has however, already alerted those countries and is working with them on border surveillance and preparedness for potential outbreaks.

Most African countries have put in place border surveillance.

At present, this event does not meet the criteria of a public heath event of international concern as defined in the International Health Regulations, IHR (2005), and does not warrant the convening of an Emergency Committee under the IHR (2005).

Kenyan Situation Report and Risk Assessment

There is no case of Ebola that has been detected in the country

To mitigate the threat, the Kenyan ministry of health has established the National Health Emergency Council, whose role is, among others, to act expeditiously to prevent importation of Ebola virus disease or any other diseases of Public Health threat into Kenya.

In line with other African countries Kenya has put in place screening for all travelers at points of entry.

DRC Response

The response plan to the outbreak includes surveillance, case investigation, and contact tracing; community engagement and social mobilization;

case management and infection prevention and control; safe and dignified burials; research response including the use of ring vaccination and antivirals; and coordination and operations support.

Travel Advice

WHO has not advised on restrictions to travel and trade to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

ILRI Health and Safety Response

All concerns and queries regarding the Ebola outbreak in DRC are to be addressed to EOHS at E.Khaemba and relevant Director.

Please contact relevant Director for approval of travel to and from DRC. Copy EOHS on all requests and Gail Amare at g.amare for travel to or from Ethiopia.

Travel to the affected province thus Bikoro Equateur province in DRC and the city of Mbandaka will require approval by Director General (DG) – ILRI.

Travelers from DRC to ILRI campuses in Kenya and Ethiopia will require approval of DG ILRI.

The authorization for travel shall be communicated within 48 hours.

The situation will be monitored closely and relevant information shared.

Regards

Ephy Khaemba| EOHS/ Research Compliance Manager
International Livestock Research Institute | ilri.org
Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya

Mobile: +254 721283322 | Off: +254 711033375 | Skype: <ephy.khaemba>

Email:E.khaemba

ILRI is a CGIAR research centre