Slightly over a week ago, Congo’s government reported the first Disease Outbreak News on the Ebola outbreak in Equateur province in the Western part of the country. This was on the 10th of May.
However according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) data, from 4th April through 13 May 2018, a total of 39 Ebola virus disease cases had been reported, including 19 deaths (case fatality rate = 49%) and three health care workers. As of 16 May, 393 contacts had been identified and are being followed. A new confirmed case in the 1.2 million people town of Mbandaka, some 150 km away from Bikoro, increases the risk of spreading the disease.
Based on these reports, several countries are now on alert on its borders working to keep the virus out of its borders. Kenya has for instance heightened its scrutiny of travelers on all its entry points as well as borders.
A committee has since been set up by WHO to deal with the health crisis as well as stop it from spreading to other countries. According to noted released from its first meeting, the officials noted that nine neighbouring countries, including Congo-Brazzaville and Central African Republic, have been advised that they are at high risk of spread and have been supported with equipment and personnel.
“From 4 April to 17 May 2018, 45 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cases have been reported, including in three health care workers, and 25 deaths have been reported. Of these 45 cases, 14 have been confirmed. Most of these cases have been in the remote Bikoro health zone, although one confirmed case is in Mbandaka, a city of 1.2 million, which has implications for its spread.” Data from WHO reads.
This situation has pushed the east African Community secretariat to move with speed and protect its borders from the deadly virus.
“Five out of six EAC Partner States share borders with the DRC, and all of them maintain close trade relations with high border traffic.” EAC notes in a statement sent to newsrooms.
There are also direct flights between the DRC and individual East African Partner States. These factors have caused the EAC to be on high alert. Partner States have put safety measures in place that range from screening people arriving from DRC at the border posts for signs of the disease to alerting health personnel; enhancing diagnostic capacities at major research centres; and informing citizens of the risk and of preventive measures. To date, no cases of Ebola have been detected in the EAC region.
The EAC region has experienced a number of Ebola outbreaks in the past, and some 500 East African experts assisted in the fight against Ebola in West Africa in 2014-2016, when the disease killed more than 11,000 out of almost 30,000 infected people. These experts represent a unique pool of professionals from different disciplines, all with hands-on experience in responding to EVD outbreaks. They can be mobilised at short notice to join the common effort of preventing the disease to spread into the EAC.
The EAC Secretariat has now encouraged the public to be vigilant and alert. People should seek medical attention when the following symptoms are observed: a sudden onset of fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat.
“This is often followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, and a skin rash. It can be accompanied by internal and external bleeding (e.g. oozing from the gums, blood in the stools). The public is also urged to continue cooperating with the health workers of their nearest health facilities by availing themselves of information about EVD.” The secretariat states in detail.
“The EAC Secretariat commends the Partner States for their vigilance and quick and prudent response across disciplines as reflected in the One Health approach. The Secretariat will continue to monitor the situation together with the EAC Partner States to detect any occurrence of EVD in the region at the earliest possible time.” It concludes.
