EbolaDRC Ebola total tops 600; vaccination team attacked
With 10 new Ebola infections reported on New Year’s Day and today, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Ebola outbreak passed the 600-case mark, as a fresh round of violence—this time in Komanda—injured a member of a health ministry vaccination team.
With 10 new Ebola infections reported on New Year’s Day and today, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Ebola outbreak passed the 600-case mark, as a fresh round of violence—this time in Komanda—injured a member of a health ministry vaccination team.
In other developments, Samaritan’s Purse, a group that was instrumental in treating Ebola patients in West Africa’s outbreak, announced plans to open an Ebola treatment center in the outbreak region, and Oxfam announced a suspension in activities due to continuing unrest.
Wounded vaccination worker airlifted
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was in the outbreak region yesterday to spend time with Ebola responders, according his Twitter account. “While the rest of the world is celebrating, Ebola responders are still hard at work, away from their families doing everything they can to control the outbreak,” Tedros said. “Honored to welcome the new year with them.”
In an update Wednesday, Tedros said the wounded vaccination worker was airlifted out of the area for advanced care and that a missing worker has been retrieved. “My enormous respect for heroic responders who continue to save lives despite the difficult situation,” he added.
Wellcome Trust Director Jeremy Farrar, was on the evacuation flight and is with Tedros today to assess the outbreak and what extra support he can offer. Tedros also praised the work of Mike Ryan, WHO assistant director-general for emergency preparedness and response, for leading teams at headquarters and on the ground, and the United Nations MONUSCO for its evacuation efforts.
New cases in four hot spots
CIDRAP reports that of the 10 new confirmed cases, 3 are in Oicha, 3 in Beni, 2 in Butembo, and 2 in Katwa, the health ministry said in updates yesterday and today. The new illnesses boost the outbreak total to 608 cases, which includes 560 confirmed and 48 probable cases.
In addition, 29 suspected cases are still under investigation, a number that dropped from 54 the day before as response efforts have been hindered by violence in outbreak zones.
