WHO’s regional director to Africa travels to the Congo to discuss Ebola response plans

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti recently visited Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to hold a meeting with the country’s national authorities to discuss an effective response plan in regards to the recently-verified outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD).

In total, nine confirmed cases have appeared in the DRC’s Likati health zone, which resulted in three reported deaths. An additional five samples were tested by the DRC’s Ministry of Health, one of which tested positive for EVD’s Zaire subtype.

“WHO has already mobilized technical experts to be deployed on the ground and is ready to provide the leadership and technical expertise required to mount a coordinated and effective response,” Moeti said. “I encourage to public to work with the health authorities and take the necessary preventive measures to protect their health.”

WHO deployed a multidisciplinary team in the affected area on May 10 to conduct an in depth field investigation. The Likati health zone is located in a remote, isolated region in the northern portion of the country and can take between two to three days to reach from Kinshasa.

In support of effective disease response, the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network has been activated to provide reinforcement of epidemiological surveillance, contact tracing, case management, and community engagement.

“A strong multi-sectoral response, better coordination, public awareness, community engagement and adequate resources will be critical in our efforts to stop the outbreak,” DRC’s Minister of Health Oly Ilunga Kalenga said.

The recent discovery is the eighth outbreak of Ebola virus disease to appear in the DRC since its discovery in 1976.