Update on the Ebola virus disease in DRC, No. 9 - 8 September 2014

Coordination

  • An early warning case is being tracked in the Municipality of Lingwala (Kinshasa) by the Epidemiological Control Commission (ECC). This case however is from the Health Zone of Sankuru in the Province of Kasai Oriental

  • **Three samples still being analyzed

  • Two hotline number have been set up to allow the population to get information on the disease and ongoing efforts 081 08 000 20 et 099 99 710 05

  • Samples from Boko-Kinvula (Bas-Congo) received on Wednesday, 3 September 2014, were negative

  • A regional meeting of SADEC Health Ministers was held in Victoria Falls/Zimbabwe on the management and prevention of the Ebola disease with two key recommendations:
    o Standardize interventions in the prevention of the spread of MVE
    o Enhance the sanitary border control without impeding international traffic

  • Re-opening of schools in Boende and Lokolia postponed for a week, from 8 to 13 September, instead of two weeks as previously planned.

  • Activation of the contingency plan to prevent the entry of sick people from West Africa

  • Free medical treatment to all patient in the affected areas

Ongoing activities

  • Preparation of a health roadmap by the ECC as per the recommendation of the Great Lakes Health Ministers’ meeting on the on the management and prevention of the Ebola disease

  • The mobile laboratory has arrived in Lokolia and should be operational by 8 September

  • Two CDC’s laboratory epidemiologists have arrived in DRC to support the INRB field team

  • Preparation of NFI –WASH kits to be deployed in twenty villages within the surroundings of the epicenter of the disease

  • Ongoing sensitization of religious leaders and executives from the Minister of Primary, Secondary and Vocational Education on Ebola Disease in the conference room of the PNMLS; sensitization in Lokolia (Equateur Province) of religious leaders, community radios, teachers, etc. on hygiene

  • Distribution of leaflets and other sensitization materials in the affected area on good practices of hygiene