DR Congo Ebola outbreak still an international public health concern
The World Health Organization (WHO) convened its Emergency Committee which reaffirmed that the risk remains high at the national and regional levels, but low globally.
“It was the unanimous view of the Committee that this event still constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)”, the UN agency said in a statement.
“The Committee was concerned that withdrawing the PHEIC now might have adverse consequences for the response efforts through diminishing focus.”
The outbreak in the eastern DRC began in August 2018. As of this month, there have been 3,308 confirmed cases and more than 2,250 deaths.
It is occurring in a region plagued by insecurity, which has affected response efforts, and while the DRC battles serious ongoing outbreaks of measles, cholera and other diseases.
“The country continues to need support to combat infectious diseases as well as to strengthen its health system. Further, there remains an urgent need to maintain international solidarity for the response”, the statement said.
While noting an “encouraging trend” in Ebola case incidence and geographic spread, the health experts said sustaining progress will depend on the security situation, among other factors.
The Committee advised the Congolese authorities to sustain commitment and coordination on Ebola response and to strengthen community awareness and engagement.
Other recommendations include continued cross-border screening and monitoring at checkpoints around hotspots in the east, as well as scaling up preparedness in non-affected provinces.
“At-risk countries should maintain their work with partners to improve their preparedness for detecting and managing imported or locally acquired cases, including the transparent sharing of detailed information on suspect cases”, said the experts, citing WHO norms and guidance.
Ebola virus disease is a rare but severe, often fatal, illness in humans.
An experimental vaccine, which proved highly protective during a 2015 trial in Guinea, is being used in the DRC outbreak.
Mlipuko wa Ebola nchini Congo bado ni tatizo la kimataifa la afya ya umma, Shirika la Afya Duniani (WHO) limetangaza katika mkutano wa kamati yake ya dharura, kwamba hatari hiyo bado ni kubwa katika ngazi za kitaifa na kikanda, lakini ni ndogo duniani kote. "Ilikuwa maoni ya umoja wa Kamati kwamba tukio hili bado linawakilisha dharura ya afya ya umma ya wasiwasi wa kimataifa (PHEIC),"" shirika la Umoja wa Mataifa lilisema katika taarifa." "Kulingana na ripoti ya WHO, ""Uchunguzi wa PHEIC sasa unaweza kuwa na athari mbaya kwa juhudi za majibu kwa kupunguza umakini"" na ""Uchunguzi wa PHEIC sasa unaweza kuwa na athari mbaya kwa juhudi za majibu kwa sababu ya kupungua kwa umakini.""" Tangu mwezi huu, kumekuwa na kesi 3,308 zilizothibitishwa na zaidi ya vifo 2,250. "Hali hii inatokea katika eneo ambalo linaathiriwa na ukosefu wa usalama, ambayo imeathiri juhudi za kukabiliana na hali hiyo, na wakati DRC inapambana na milipuko mikubwa ya ugonjwa wa surua, kipindupindu na magonjwa mengine.""" <unk>Nchi inaendelea kuhitaji msaada kupambana na magonjwa ya kuambukiza na pia kuimarisha mfumo wake wa afya. Zaidi ya hayo, bado kuna haja ya haraka ya kudumisha mshikamano wa kimataifa kwa majibu <unk>, taarifa hiyo ilisema. Wakati wakigundua "mwelekeo wa kutia moyo" katika matukio ya kesi za Ebola na kuenea kwa kijiografia, wataalam wa afya walisema maendeleo ya kudumu yatategemea hali ya usalama, kati ya mambo mengine. Tume hiyo imewashauri mamlaka ya Kongo kudumisha kujitolea na uratibu wa majibu ya Ebola na kuimarisha ufahamu na ushiriki wa jamii. Mapendekezo mengine ni pamoja na kuendelea na uchunguzi wa kuvuka mpaka na ufuatiliaji katika vituo vya ukaguzi karibu na maeneo ya moto mashariki, na pia kuongeza utayari katika mikoa isiyoathiriwa. "Nchi zilizo hatarini zinapaswa kuendelea kufanya kazi na washirika wao ili kuboresha utayari wao wa kugundua na kusimamia kesi zilizopelekwa au zilizopatikana ndani ya nchi, pamoja na kushiriki kwa uwazi habari za kina juu ya kesi zinazoshukiwa, ""wasema wataalam, wakinukuu kanuni na mwongozo wa WHO." Ugonjwa wa Ebola ni ugonjwa wa kawaida lakini mbaya, mara nyingi mbaya kwa wanadamu. Chanjo hiyo ya majaribio ilithibitika kuwa yenye kuokoa sana wakati wa jaribio la 2015 nchini Guinea, na sasa inatumika katika janga la DRC.