WHO: 37 Ebola cases in DRC, 4 deaths

Ebola treatment center
Ebola treatment center

UN Photo/Martine Perret/ Flickr cc

Over the weekend the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported 8 more suspected Ebola cases and one additional death, according to an update from the World Health Organization (WHO). This raises the total number of suspected cases to 37 and the total number of deaths to 4.

The case-fatality rate for the current outbreak is 11%, and the DRC said that so far no healthcare workers have been diagnosed as having Ebola.

All 37 possible cases are in the Likati Health Zone, in Bas Uele province, which is in the northern part of DRC. Five health areas have reported cases: Nambwa (12 cases and three deaths), Muma (four cases and no deaths), Ngayi (16 cases and one death), Azande (three cases and no deaths), and Ngabatala (two cases and no deaths).

Patient symptoms have included blood diarrhea, fever, vomiting and hemorrhaging, and 362 close contacts are now being monitored daily.

Samples negative for Ebola

In a sign that could mean the outbreak is well-contained in this remote region, the WHO said that no samples tested over the weekend in Likati Health Zone have tested positive for Ebola, "As of 21 May 2017, 22 samples have tested negative by PCR, 15 of which are from Likati and 7 from Banalia (a health zone belonging to the neighboring province of Tshopo)," the situation report said.

The WHO said another mobile lab is currently en route to Buta to help test more samples.

Current cases and vaccination

The situation report confirmed that an Ebola treatment center (ETC) has now been established in Likati. Five cases are being treated in the ETC, most recent case admitted on May 20.

Finally, the situation report contains new information about the possible use of VSV-EBOV, the Ebola vaccine. "The government of DRC and MSF with support of WHO and other partners are preparing to offer access to the VSV-EBOV experimental/investigational vaccine," the report stated.

"The vaccine will be offered to contacts and contacts of contacts of a confirmed EVD case, including Health Care Workers and Field Laboratory Work­ers. This will be done under Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and with informed consent."

The DRC still needs to approve the use of the unlicensed vaccine, manufactured by Merck, before a vaccination campaign can begin.

See also:

May 21 WHO situation report

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