As the outbreak in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues, officials announced yesterday that a suspected case in Goma has tested negative for the virus. There is one newly confirmed case, however in Mabalaka, as well as two new fatalities in probable cases in Beni.
Outbreak totals now stand at 115 cases, 85 of them confirmed, 30 probable, according to an update from the DRC ministry of health. Seventy-seven people have died. One person has recovered from his or her illness.
Currently, 10 cases remain under investigation, but one of two suspected cases announced yesterday in Goma has been ruled out.
Goma is the capital of North Kivu province, and is near the border with Rwanda. A confirmed case there would increase the risk of the virus spreading internationally.
Yesterday DRC Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga, MD, visited North Kivu to assess the situation. He fielded questions on the impending start of the school year, and maintained school should begin on schedule but surveillance and hygiene throughout the district should be heightened. According to UNICEF, 82,500 children in the Ebola-affected areas are set to begin school in the coming weeks.
The DRC also updated its vaccination numbers. Since vaccination with Merck's unlicensed vaccine began on Aug 8, 4,645 people have been vaccinated, including 2,372 in Mabalako, 1,135 in Beni, 1,017 in Mandima, and 121 in Oicha.
19 patients on experimental treatments
On Twitter today, Peter Salama, MD, the World Health Organization's (WHO's) director-general of emergency preparedness and response, said 19 patients have received experimental Ebola treatments, including mAb114, ZMapp, and remdesivir.
Two of those patients have recovered and been discharged, 16 are currently receiving treatment, and 1 person has died. Salama said that person arrived at the Ebola treatment center (ETC) in the late stages of disease. He also said most patients are being offered treatments within hours of arriving at ETCs.
This is the first outbreak in which Ebola treatments have been used.
Strengthening DRC's health system
Also today, the WHO hosted a live Facebook session with Mike Ryan, MD, assistant director-general for emergency preparedness and response. Ryan answered some basic questions on the nature of Ebola and filoviruses and provided some new details about the response effort in North Kivu.
Ryan said the DRC's national healthcare system was at the root of its recent Ebola outbreaks, while at the same time applauding the efforts of DRC health workers who have risked their lives to contain the virus.
"We have a weak health system, and many cases have been associated with healthcare settings," Ryan said. "This country requires a massive investment in its health system," he added, noting that bolstering the DRC system is a global public health investment.
At this point, however, Ryan said the goal of the WHO and its partners is containing the spread of the disease.
"We've had a few scares, including two confirmed cases in red zones," Ryan said. "We need to contain the virus in North Kivu and prevent its extension into other provinces and other countries. At the moment we seem to be winning, but [it's] cautious optimism."
See also
Aug 29 DRC update
Aug 30 WHO Facebook stream
Peter Salama Twitter feed
