DRC: Ebola vaccination campaign to start in North Kivu August 8 /update 2

Officials to launch Ebola vaccination campaign in North Kivu on August 8; take necessary precautions
Read all related news alert(s):
DRC: Northeastern Ebola outbreak declared over on June 25 /update 72
DRC: Ebola patient escapes clinic in Beni Apri 19 /update 71
DRC: Activists denounce Ebola response in Beni (North Kivu province) April 16 /update 70
DRC: Ebola outbreak continues as new case reported in Beni April 10 /update 69
DRC: Final Ebola patient discharged from hospital March 3 /update 68
DRC: Ebola epidemic death toll reaches 3432 cases nationwide February 11 /update 67
DRC: Ebola outbreak continues in eastern provinces as of mid-January /update 66
DRC: Over 3000 cases of Ebola recorded in eastern provinces December 30 /update 65
DRC: Ebola epidemic death toll reaches 2210 in eastern provinces as of mid-December /update 64
DRC: Four killed in health center attacks in North Kivu and Ituri, November 28 /update 63
DRC: Anti-Ebola advocate killed in Ituri province November 2 /update 62
DRC: Ebola epidemic death toll reaches 2137 in eastern provinces as of early October /update 61
DRC: Ebola epidemic death toll reaches to 2006 in eastern provinces as of late August /update 60
DRC: Third Ebola patient dies in South Kivu province August 21 /update 59
DRC: Ebola outbreak spreads in South Kivu province August 19 /update 58
DRC: Ebola outbreak spreads to South Kivu province August 16 /update 57
DRC: Fourth Ebola case in Goma August 1 /update 56
DRC: Third Ebola case confirmed in Goma July 31 /update 55
DRC: Second Ebola case confirmed in Goma July 30 /update 54
DRC: Ebola epidemic death toll reaches 1743 in eastern provinces as of late July /update 53
DRC: WHO declares Ebola epidemic “public health emergency of international concern” July 17 /update 52
DRC: Ebola case confirmed in Goma as death toll reaches 1665 /update 51
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills over 1570 people in North Kivu and Ituri as of early July /update 50
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills over 1540 people in North Kivu and Ituri June 26 /update 49
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills over 1396 people in North Kivu and Ituri June 12 /update 48
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills over 1360 people in North Kivu and Ituri June 5 /update 47
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 1312 people in North Kivu and Ituri May 29 /update 46
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 1218 people in North Kivu and Ituri May 21 /update 45
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 1124 people in North Kivu and Ituri May 14 /update 44
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 1045 people in North Kivu and Ituri May 7 /update 43
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills over 1000 people in North Kivu and Ituri May 5 /update 42
DRC: Ebola outbreak infects 1466 in North Kivu and Ituri as of April 30 /update 41
DRC: Ebola outbreak infects 1353 in North Kivu and Ituri as of April 24 /update 40
DRC: Ebola outbreak infects 1264 in North Kivu and Ituri as of April 16 /update 39
DRC: Ebola outbreak infects 1154 in North Kivu and Ituri as of April 9 /update 38
DRC: Ebola outbreak infects 1089 in North Kivu and Ituri as of March 31 /update 37
DRC: Ebola outbreak infects over 1000 people in North Kivu and Ituri late March /update 36
DRC: First Ebola case confirmed in Bunia March 20 /update 35
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills over 600 people in North Kivu and Ituri by mid-March /update 34
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 563 in North Kivu and Ituri as of early March /update 33
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills over 550 in North Kivu and Ituri as of late-February /update 32
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills over 500 in North Kivu and Ituri as of mid-February /update 31
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 481 in North Kivu and Ituri as of early February /update 30
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 468 in North Kivu and Ituri as of early February /update 29
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 439 in North Kivu and Ituri as of late January /update 28
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 407 in North Kivu and Ituri as of January 15 /update 27
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 370 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces /update 26
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 336 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces /update 25
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 319 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces /update 24
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 285 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces /update 23
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 271 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces /update 22
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 268 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces /update 21
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 241 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces /update 20
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 219 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces /update 19
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 201 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces /update 18
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 180 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces /update 17
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 164 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces /update 16
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 139 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces /update 15
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 125 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces /update 14
DRC: Ebola outbreak kills 118 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces /update 13
DRC: Ebola outbreak continues in North Kivu and Ituri provinces /update 12
DRC: Ebola outbreak continues in North Kivu and Ituri provinces /update 11
DRC: Officials concerned Ebola outbreak may spread /update 10
DRC: Ebola death toll nears 100 in eastern DRC /update 9
DRC: 85 deaths amid ongoing Ebola outbreak /update 8
DRC: Death toll rises amid ongoing Ebola outbreak /update 7
DRC: Death toll rises from Ebola outbreak /update 6
DRC: Death toll rises from Ebola outbreak August 20 /update 5
DRC: Ebola outbreak continues as of August 15 /update 4
DRC: WHO reports 33 deaths in latest Ebola outbreak (eastern DRC) August 4 /update 3
DRC: Ebola outbreak continues in North Kivu /update 1
DRC: Ebola outbreak in Beni (North Kivu)
Event
Health officials announced on Sunday, August 5, that an Ebola vaccination campaign will begin in North Kivu province on Wednesday, August 8. As of August 4, at least 13 Ebola cases have been confirmed in North Kivu and Ituri province, including three fatalities. Cases in North Kivu have been centered in the towns of Beni and Mabalako. Health officials said another 30 suspected cases are still being investigated in the region. Public health measures - including increased monitoring - are expected in North Kivu in the coming days and weeks.
Context
Isolated outbreaks of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) occur occasionally in the DRC, mostly in remote areas. The latest outbreak was declared by government authorities on May 8, 2018, in Equateur province. In that outbreak, which officially ended on July 24, 54 cases were reported, including 33 fatalities.
Despite a scant healthcare system, international health organizations operating in the country as well as the local population are well versed in responding to the disease and are able to do so effectively. However, the security situation in the North Kivu, home to several armed groups, may render these actions difficult. Furthermore, there is a risk for the disease to spread regionally as Beni is located near the borders with Uganda and Rwanda, across which a lot of international trade is conducted.
EVD is extremely virulent. The disease is transmitted to humans via direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected animals. The disease can then be transmitted between humans and is highly contagious, particularly during the hemorrhagic phase. Ebola is characterized by the sudden onset of high fever, weakness, joint and muscle pain, and headache. A sore throat is also a common early symptom. These symptoms are followed by nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, kidney and liver failure, and, in some cases, internal and external bleeding.
Advice
Travelers should avoid the area and monitor the situation. To prevent the spread of EVD:
- Avoid contact with infected individuals and any items that have been in their close proximity
- Avoid consuming bush meat and only handle animals when wearing gloves and the appropriate protective wear
- Animal products (meat and blood) should be thoroughly cooked before consumption
- Adhere to a strict observance of hygienic precautions (wash hands regularly, etc.)
- Avoid crowded areas (stadiums, markets, train stations, etc.) In case of doubt, individuals should seek immediate medical attention and comply with all directives issued by local health authorities.
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