ReliefWeb

Date of information: 27 May 2017

1. Situation update

WHO, UN Agencies, International organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and partners continue to support the Ministry of Health in the Democratic Republic of Congo to rapidly investigate and respond to the outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Likati Health Zone, Bas Uele Province in the north-east of the country.

On 27 May 2017, no new confirmed or probable EVD cases were reported and six new suspected cases were reported, all originating from Likati Health Zone. On 27 May thirty cases previously reported as suspected cases have now been re-classified as ‘not a case’ following laboratory analysis. The last confirmed case was reported on 11 May 2017. Following further investigation, one previously reported suspect case has been reclassified as probable by the field epidemiology team in Likati, based on the current case definitions.

Currently there are a total of two confirmed cases, four probable and 16 suspected cases. The confirmed and probable cases were reported from Nambwa (one confirmed and three probable) and Muma (one confirmed and one probable). The suspected cases have been reported from seven health areas (Nambwa, Muma, Ngayi, Azande, Ngabatala, Mobenge and Mabongo). The outbreak currently remains confined to Likati Health Zone. As of 27 May, 357 contacts are being followed up for signs and symptoms of Ebola.

Based on limited available data on confirmed and probable cases, modelling suggests the risk of further cases is low, and decreases with each day without new confirmed/probable cases. As of the reporting date, 76% of simulated scenarios predict no further cases in the next 30 days.

All seven response committees are now established and functional at national level, namely Monitoring, Case management, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and biosafety, Laboratory and research, Pyscho-social management, Logistics, and Communication. Additionally response teams have been established in the three most affected areas, Nambwa, Muma and Ngay.

This EVD outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo was notified to WHO by the Ministry of Health (MoH) on 11 May 2017. The cluster of cases and deaths of previously unidentified illness have been reported since late April 2017. Likati Health Zone shares borders with two provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and with the Central African Republic (Figure 1). The affected area is remote and hard to reach, with limited communication and transport infrastructure.