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Ebola Virus Disease - Democratic Republic of the Congo: External Situation Report 3 (17 May 2017)

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DR Congo
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WHO
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1. Situation update

WHO continues to support the Ministry of Health in the Democratic Republic of Congo to monitor and respond to the outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Likati Health Zone, Bas Uele Province located in the north-east of the country.
On 17 May 2017, no new EVD cases were reported in Likati Health Zone. Meanwhile, the suspected case reported on 16 May 2017 in Azande was discarded since the case did not meet the surveillance case definition of EVD. As of 17 May 2017, a total of 20 suspected EVD cases including two laboratory confirmed cases have been reported. To date, three deaths have been reported, giving a case fatality rate of 15%. Most of the cases presented with fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea and other bleeding symptoms and signs. The cases have been reported from four health areas, namely Nambwa (11 cases and two deaths), Mouma (three cases and one death), and Ngayi (six cases and no deaths).
Out of the five blood samples analysed at the national reference laboratory, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in Kinshasa, two tested positive for Zaire ebolavirus. At least 416 close contacts have been registered in Likati Health Zone and are being monitored.
This EVD outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo was notified to WHO by the Ministry of Health 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 (Fig. 1). The affected areas are remote and hard to reach, with limited communication and transport networks.