RAPPORT DE SITUATION HUMANITAIRE SUR LA REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO

24 août 2012
VERSION FINALE

..Warning: Arrival August 18th General Hospital Reference Oïcha in Beni Territory, the patient suspected
Ebola died on 20 August. The Chief Medical Officer of Health Area Oïcha informed the Provincial Division
health so that arrangements are in place in the territory of Beni neighboring Uganda and the Province
Eastern already affected by this epidemic. A meeting is planned with the aid shortly to
finalize the contingency plan developed by the District Health Beni. A partner has already demonstrated to
support the health district of Beni and the Congolese Red Cross to raise awareness among professionals
health centers and population. [link to www.rdc-humanitaire.net]

Dr. Léodégal Bazira, WHO Representative in the DRC

Saturday, August 25, 2012


Dr. Léodégal Bazira, WHO Representative in the DRC, this currently Isiro in the Eastern Province, is the point of the home situation of the Ebola epidemic in this region of the Democratic Republic of Congo where 11 people are already died of the hemorrhagic fever. This epidemic outbreaks of Ebola have also been reported in neighboring countries such as the DRC Uganda. [link to translate.google.com]

suspected case in the territory of Beni

HATTIP RONAN
22 août 2012 Province du Nord Kivu N° 29/12

...
Health Alert• A suspected case of Ebola received August 18 General Hospital Reference Oïcha in Beni Territory, is died Aug. 20. According to the medical director of the General Hospital and the Medical Officer of Health Oïcha area,The patient showed signs of diarrhea, nasal bleeding and anal. The Medical Officer of Health Zone Oïcha of the information transmitted to the Provincial Division of Health so that preventive measures be implemented in the territory of Beni, bordering Uganda and the Eastern Province are already affected by this epidemic. Beni District Health has developed a first draft of the plan
contingency and a meeting with humanitarian partners is expected in the coming days to finalizing this document. Subject to the decisions and actions taken by the Task Force set up by the National Department of Public Health, a partner has already positioned to support the health district Beni and the Congolese Red Cross activities in outreach center professionals health and population...

[link to reliefweb.int]

Too quiet in DRC, a few recent stories

  Here are a few stories on ebola, but it has been VERY quiet the past few days..

Man steals phone from Ebola patient, gets infected

Sunday, August 26 2012 at 01:00

Security and medical officials in Kibaale District have registered a case in which a man allegedly went in an isolation ward at Kagadi Hospital and stole a cellular phone from one of the Ebola patients.


The 40-year-old resident of Kyakabugahya LCI in Kagadi Town Council travelled about three kilometers to the hospital to apparently obtain a phone estimated to be valued at Shs60,000 more than two weeks ago.


The suspect allegedly broke into the isolation ward on the night of Tuesday August 14, undetected by hospital guards. The patient, who has since succumbed to the deadly hemorrhagic fever, then reported the theft to the hospital security that then embarked on tracing the alleged thief.


Police detectives began tracking him after he apparently began communicating to his friends using the phone. But as police zeroed in on him, he developed symptoms similar to those of Ebola and sought medication at the hospital.


While at hospital he reportedly confessed stealing the phone and has handed it to Kagadi police.
“Kagadi Police Station received
[link to www.monitor.co.ug]

Health-Bulletin
Saturday, August 25, 2012 at 08:00:00
db51341
(Congo-Brazzaville)

Public health response plan against the Ebola virus reactivated



The precautionary principle is put forward by the Congolese administration of health, due to the recurrence of hemorrhagic fever that has already claimed several victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo

All Departments having border with the DRC live an alert to the Ebola outbreak, according to the Director General of Health in the Republic of Congo. Alexis Elect Dokekias said to the press have seized the departmental Health and medical officers of health and social constituencies in Likouala, Sangha, Cuvette, Plateaux, Pool, Niari, Bouenza and Kouilou in to reactivate the device response against the Ebola haemorrhagic fever.
Even the Cuvette-Ouest, no border with the DRC, is involved in preventive measures against possible entry of the virus, which had caused several deaths in this part of Congo in 2004 and 2005. "We have very long borders with DRC border river and land simultaneously. Even if we sometimes traffic control, we can not control the animals crossing land borders. Therefore, if we were faced with this epidemic, we might respond, "he argued....
[link to www.brazzaville-adiac.com]

Adopting measures to prevent Ebola Congo


Brazzaville, Aug 25 (PL) Congo's health authorities announced today the adoption of measures in the African country to prevent Ebola epidemic, which affects the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Congolese Health CEO, Alexis Elira Dokekias, said health officials in the provinces bordering the DRC were properly oriented to reactivate the device response against the disease.
The provisions cover the northern territories as Likouala, Cuvette and Sangha; alongside Plateaux (center), Pool, Niari, Bouenza and Kouilou (south) and Cuvette West said.

He stated that the preventive measures include raising awareness not to touch or eat meat of dead animals found in wooded areas, in addition to the strengthening of epidemiological surveillance in general....
[link to www.prensa-latina.cu]

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Freliefweb.int%2Fsites%2Freliefweb.int%2Ffiles%2Fresources%2FHAG%2520-%2520Briefing%2520humanitaire%2520de%2520la%2520RDC%2520-%2520240812%2520-%2520FINAL.pdf

Did the Kigadi Ebola outbreak threaten to become an (inter)national epidemic?

Map of the Uganda road network, created using the R programming language

We want to evaluate the seriousness of the threat posed by the recent ebola outbreak in western Uganda. The outbreak appeared in Kigadi, a small village in the Kibaale district. The disease was first confirmed by the government on 28 July. By 11 Aug, Medecins Sans Frontieres epidemiologist Dr Paul Roddy said the disease was under control, with no new deaths in August. It will be classified as contained if there are no confirmed cases by middle September. In total, 19 people died from the disease in the outbreak.
The disease spreads between people by contact with contaminated body fluids. Transmission, then, is slow (in comparison to disease with aerosol transmission, i.e. influenza). We reasoned that if the disease was to spread to other...
[link to www.scipirate.com]

CDC Acknowledges H3N2v Human to Human Transmission

Recombinomics Commentary 21:00
August 24, 2012
The three instances of likely person-to-person spread of H3N2v were recently identified during investigations of cases and their household contacts and are not epidemiologically linked to one another. In all three cases, transmission is thought to have occurred from one person to another person without further spread to additional people. Each of these three instances of likely person-to-person spread happened between 2 people living in the same household, with the initial infection in each household being associated with pig exposure at an agricultural fair.
The above comments are from the CDC August 24 update, which acknowledges limited human to human (H2H) transmission of H3N2v as noted above. However, this approach of following the CDC biased sample who had extensive swine contact severely limits investigation. Most families with H2H transmission will be excluded, because family members had some sort ofg swine exposure. The CDC approach is similar to other countries limiting confirmed cases of H5N1 by limiting testing. Moreover, the 2012 cases are due to the sub-clade initially identified in a West Virginia cay care center where there..

[link to www.recombinomics.com]

The National Hygiene border war against Ebola in DRC

  Santé Kinshasa, 24/08/2012 / Health

  The National Programme of Health announced border control measures according to which every traveler is required to fill in a form on arrival in Kinshasa, to stop the spread of Ebola hemorrhagic fever.

 . Now, every traveler must fill out a form on his arrival in Kinshasa in all border crossings.  The National Hygiene border, former management of international quarantine announced this control on Sunday, August 19 to restrict the spread of Ebola haemorrhagic fever.

. According to the Deputy National Director of the National Hygiene border, Dr. Michel Musudi this medical form is a way of collecting from the traveler the symptoms of Ebola.

  "This sheet will know where he is going and who they should contact. . On the card, there's destination address.  In case he showed symptoms of the disease at the border could take her to a health center.  If there are many signs that fall within the definition of cases, we will reap the samples.  And if it turns out that the person is positive, we can go back to all the people with whom she came into contact. "

Indeed, the director of the National Institute of biomedical research and virologist, Dr. Muyembe has reminds that there is to this day, "or medicine or vaccine against Ebola virus." . According to him, the only remedy against this disease is to break the chain of transmission. : And for this, we must:

•  ; Isolate the sick;
•  ; Protect the medical team;
•  ; Detect anyone in contact with patients;
•   Follow for 21 days to analyze and isolate their blood fever.

  Before the introduction of this sheet border, the Crisis Committee epidemics District Isiro, where cases have been detected for the current epidemic had taken some measures to stop the spread of the disease.

. Hand hygiene and food is highly recommended. . It is forbidden to shake hands or be in contact with a person suffering from this disease. . In addition, it is forbidden to touch or wash the body of a deceased person of Ebola hemorrhagic fever.

  The Ebola outbreak was declared in the DRC last week with twelve cases with six deaths, according to the chief medical officer of health district interim Isiro, Dr. Jacques Gumbaluka.e. The Minister of Health, Dr Felix Kabange Numbi said last weekend that the disease has been detected in the Dungu district Isiro and Vianana in the Eastern Province.

  "There was a warning in Bukavu, South Kivu.  But the analyzes are ongoing, "said the minister.
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.digitalcongo.net%2Farticle%2F85517

Uganda-Another Ebola patient dead, only one remains in isolation facility

Another person has succumbed to Ebola after a long battle with the deadly fever at the isolation facility at Kagadi government hospital in Kibaale district.

This brings the total number of people who have died of the deadly hemorrhagic disease to 17. The deceased’s identity has however been withheld by the health ministry.

The ministry’s public relations officer Rukia Nakamatte says since she was admitted in the isolation camp her condition had never improved and her chances of survival were minimal.

Nakamatte adds that the deceased was HIV positive and by the time she contracted Ebola she had just had an abortion thus making her immune system very weak. She says now only one Ebola patient remains admitted at the isolation facility.

Nakamatte adds that 3 suspected Ebola cases are currently undergoing monitoring and their samples have already been taken to the Uganda Virus Research Institute for tests.

http://www.ugpulse.com/uganda-news/health/another-ebola-patient-dead-only-one-remains-in-isolation-facility/26927.aspx

ADULT-ONSET IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME - ASIAN PATIENTS, NOT HIV

Date: Thu 22 Aug 2012
Source: Associated Pres [edited]
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MED_MYSTERY_DISEASE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-08-22-18-04-18


New AIDS-like disease in Asians, not contagious
-----------------------------------------------
Researchers have identified a mysterious new disease that has left scores of people in Asia and some in the United States with AIDS-like symptoms even though they are not infected with HIV. The patients' immune systems become damaged, leaving them unable to fend off germs as healthy people do. What triggers this isn't known, but the disease does not seem to be contagious.

This is another kind of acquired immune deficiency that is not inherited and occurs in adults, but doesn't spread the way AIDS does through a virus, said Dr. Sarah Browne, a scientist at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. She helped lead the study with researchers in Thailand and Taiwan where most of the cases have been found since 2004. Their report is in Thursday's [22 Aug 2012] New England Journal of Medicine [see below]. "This is absolutely fascinating. I've seen probably at least 3 patients in the last 10 years or so" who might have had this, said Dr. Dennis Maki, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. It's still possible that an infection of some sort could trigger the disease, even though the disease itself doesn't seem to spread person-to-person, he said.

The disease develops around age 50 on average but does not run in families, which makes it unlikely that a single gene is responsible, Browne said. Some patients have died of overwhelming infections, including some Asians now living in the U.S., although Browne could not estimate how many.

A 62-year-old seamstress from Viet Nam who has lived in Tennessee since 1975, was gravely ill when she sought help for a persistent fever, infections throughout her bones and other bizarre symptoms in 2009. She had been sick off and on for several years and had visited Viet Nam in 1995 and again in early 2009. "She was wasting away from this systemic infection" that at 1st seemed like tuberculosis but wasn't, said Dr. Carlton Hays Jr., a family physician at the Jackson Clinic in Jackson, Tenn. "She's a small woman to begin with, but when I 1st saw her, her weight was 91 pounds, and she lost down to 69 pounds."

This patient was referred to specialists at the National Institutes of Health who had been tracking similar cases. She spent nearly a year at an NIH hospital in Bethesda, Md., and is there now for monitoring and further treatment. "I feel great now," she said Wednesday [21 Aug 2012]. But when she was sick, "I felt dizzy, headaches, almost fell down," she said. "I could not eat anything."

AIDS is a specific disease, and it stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. That means the immune system becomes impaired during someone's lifetime, rather than from inherited gene defects like the "bubble babies" who are born unable to fight off germs. The virus that causes AIDS -- HIV [human immunodeficiency virus) -- destroys T-cells, key soldiers of the immune system that fight germs. The new disease doesn't affect those cells, but causes a different kind of damage. Browne's study of more than 200 people in Taiwan and Thailand found that most of those with the disease make substances called autoantibodies that block interferon-gamma, a chemical signal that helps the body clear infections.

Blocking that signal leaves people like those with AIDS -- vulnerable to viruses, fungal infections and parasites, but especially mycobacteria, a group of germs that can cause severe lung damage. Researchers are calling this new disease an "adult-onset" immunodeficiency syndrome because it develops later in life and they don't know why or how. "Fundamentally, we do not know what's causing them to make these antibodies," Browne said.

Antibiotics aren't always effective, so doctors have tried a variety of other approaches, including a cancer drug that helps suppress production of antibodies. The disease quietens in some patients once the infections are tamed, but the faulty immune system is likely a chronic condition, researchers believe. The fact that nearly all the patients so far have been Asian or Asian-born people living elsewhere suggests that genetic factors and something in the environment such as an infection may trigger the disease, researchers conclude. The 1st cases turned up in 2004 and Browne's study enrolled about 100 people in 6 months. "We know there are many others out there," including many cases mistaken as tuberculosis in some countries, she said.

[Byline: Marilynn Marchione]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail


[It is assumed the preceding press statement is based on the paper titled: Adult-Onset Immunodeficiency in Thailand and Taiwan. By Sarah K. Browne and other, published in the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (N Engl J Med 2012; 367:725-734 August 23, 2012; http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1111160). The authors' summary follows.

Background
----------
Autoantibodies against interferon-gamma are associated with severe disseminated opportunistic infection, but their importance and prevalence are unknown.
Methods
-----------
We enrolled 203 persons from sites in Thailand and Taiwan in 5 groups: 52 patients with disseminated, rapidly or slowly growing, nontuberculous mycobacterial infection (group 1); 45 patients with another opportunistic infection, with or without nontuberculous mycobacterial infection (group 2); 9 patients with disseminated tuberculosis (group 3); 49 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (group 4); and 48 healthy controls (group 5). Clinical histories were recorded, and blood specimens were obtained.
Results
------
Patients in groups 1 and 2 had CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts that were similar to those in patients in groups 4 and 5, and they were not infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Washed cells obtained from patients in groups 1 and 2 had intact cytokine production and a response to cytokine stimulation. In contrast, plasma obtained from these patients inhibited the activity of interferon-gamma in normal cells. High-titer anti-interferon-gamma autoantibodies were detected in 81 percent of patients in group 1, 96 percent of patients in group 2, 11 percent of patients in group 3, 2 percent of patients in group 4, and 2 percent of controls (group 5). 40 other anticytokine autoantibodies were assayed. One patient with cryptococcal meningitis had autoantibodies only against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. No other anticytokine autoantibodies or genetic defects correlated with infections. There was no familial clustering.
Conclusions
----------
Neutralizing anti-interferon-gamma autoantibodies were detected in 88 percent of Asian adults with multiple opportunistic infections and were associated with an adult-onset immunodeficiency akin to that of advanced HIV infection. 

The adult-onset immunodeficiency syndrome, mediated by the production of anti gamma-interferon antibodies, does not appear to be contagious and the condition develops around age 50 on average but does not run in families, which makes it unlikely that a single gene is responsible, The prevalence of this condition in Asian people, though not necessarily resident in Asia, implies a genetic origin rather than a cryptic infectious agent. But anything is possible

Uganda Ebola patients boosted with supplies

Publish Date: Aug 24, 2012

• IA CEO Mariam Magala (L) shows a list of supplies to Dr. Lwamafa . PHOTO/Francis Emorut

newvision

• 
• 
• 

By Francis Emorut

Ebola patients at Kagadi Hospital have been aided with health supplies critical for their recovery.

The health boost packages were handed over to the ministry of health in Kampala Thursday by Uganda Insurers Association.

“This is a very generous contribution. We need a lot of supplies to manage the patients in the knowledge that this is very contagious,” Dr. D.KW Lwamafa, the commissioner for health services national disease control said.
Lwamafa pointed out that the ministry is in dire need of catheters which have to be changed every so often because they fill up with urine.

The commissioner said the western district hospital is in dire need of gloves to handle the patients and the antiseptics to keep disinfecting the place.

The health supplies were handled over by the chief executive officer of Uganda Insurers Association, Miriam Magala.

The entire package which was worth sh10m includes catheter Foley, gloves, theatre caps, urine collecting bags, alcohol swabs, mackintosh rubber, Aprons, oxygen gas.

Others are potassium chloride and prednisolone tablets.

Magala said the donation is aimed at supporting the ongoing efforts by the ministry of health to contain the disease which so far has killed over 20 people since its outbreak last month in Kibaale district and to boost the recovery of the victims.

“The outbreak is almost under control. However, more people continue to be followed up, investigated and discharged after receiving treatment for other ailments,” Magala said.

Lwamafa observed that the oxygen gas will come in handy when patients go into respiratory failure.

Magala called upon all people of goodwill to contribute to this noble cause as some work still needs to be done especially in terms of psychological support for Ebola affected victims and communities.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/634461-ebola-patients-boosted-with-supplies.html

Ebola: Ocha speaks a cumulative total of 15 cases reported case fatality rate of over 66%.

Ebola: Ocha speaks a cumulative total of 15 cases reported

Kinshasa, 23/08/2012 / Health

According Lobota Médard, OCHA spokesman, a cumulative total of 15 cases with haemorrhagic signs, including 10 deaths reported in the August 20, 2012 by the WHO, a case fatality rate of over 66%.
... [link to translate.google.com]

The Republic of Congo is implementing a response plan against Ebola

The Republic of Congo is implementing a response plan against EbolaGovernment of the Republic of Congo




Following the re-emergence of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Republic of Congo is taking all precautions to respond to outbreaks in the country. The information was given on August 23 in Brazzaville by the Director General of Health, Professor Alexis Dokekias Elect.According to Alexis Elect Dokekias all departments with border with the DRC have already been alerted (departmental directorates of health, medical officers of health social constituencies) to reactivate their system response against the epidemic. This is precisely the Departments of Likouala, Sangha, Cuvette, Plateaux, Pool, Niari, Bouenza and Kouilou. But also to the Cuvette-Ouest, due to the presence of a large forest.
The response plan is to implement prevention and promotion of health, that is to say, undertake awareness of the population on how to behave. First, the social mobilization, public information and health managers about the dangers of a possible extension of the epidemic of Ebola virus: do not touch or eat the meat of an animal found dead in the forest and strengthen epidemiological surveillance. The Directorate General of Health must also take precautions to protect healthcare workers and people who are suspected of being this type of virus.
"We have very long borders with DRC border river and land simultaneously. Even if we sometimes traffic control, we can not control the animals crossing from either side of land borders. Consequently, if we may face this epidemic, we could meet.
Only, for this response to be effective, will require financial resources are mobilized. We assure you that we are calm, the precautionary principle that guides us and this is in all our response, "said Alexis E. Dokekias.
He added that the only way to fight against this virus is prevention, because to date there is no cure. This is why the financial means must be mobilized in time to make the plan more effective response.
The Republic of Congo has already suffered from Ebola haemorrhagic fever, which caused the death of nearly a hundred people in the Cuvette-Ouest. On August 21, DRC, 16 probable or confirmed cases with 10 deaths were recorded at 570 km northeast of Kisangani and 84 cases remain under supervision contacts   http://reliefweb.int/report/congo/la-r%C3%A9publique-du-congo-met-en-place-un-plan-de-riposte-contre-le-virus-ebola

Bird Flu Outbreak? The Vaccine (Patch) Is in the Mail

 

Creators say the vaccine could save lives, prevent spread in case of an outbreak

By Jason Koebler

August 23, 2012    

This 'microneedle' device could eventually be delivered with a patch.

If a flu pandemic breaks out, the last thing the government wants is for people to rush to hospitals and doctors' offices to get vaccinated among lots of already sick people. To prevent such a scenario, a self-administered flu vaccine is being developed that could be mailed out to the masses.
The vaccine, developed by the Infectious Disease Research Institute, will start human trials next month and is designed to protect against H5N1, one of the most deadly strains of bird flu. While H5N1 kills about 80 percent of people who contract it, so far it is unable to spread from person to person.

Scientists started a political firestorm earlier this year after they published a paper proving they could manipulate the virus so that it could spread from ferret to ferret, animals that are often used to model the human immune system.
If H5N1 mutates on its own so that it can be spread among humans, doctors are worried that standard vaccine dispensaries, such as hospitals and doctors offices, will become a prime location at which to contract the disease. So the Infectious Disease Research Institute is using microneedles—a series of tiny needles that can be applied to a patch—to deliver the vaccine. A microneedle vaccine could be easily self-administered.
"The idea is to send it through the mail as a patch that's self-assembled and stable," says Darrick Carter, who helped develop the vaccine. "We could stop people from going to a hospital where there's a bunch of sick people."
Sending a vaccine through ....
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/08/23/bird-flu-outbreak-the-vaccine-patch-is-in-the-mail

DRC: MSF emergency team responds to Ebola outbreak

 

Date Published: 23/08/2012 04:44

An emergency team from Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is responding to an outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Isiro, northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). MSF’s team is implementing safety measures at the Ebola treatment centre in Isiro to contain the virus.
So far there have been nine deaths in the current outbreak, only one of which has been laboratory-confirmed as Ebola. Twelve more people are suspected of having the disease, one of whom has been admitted to the treatment centre in Isiro. One patient who contracted the disease has made a full recovery.

Different strains

An MSF team working to stop the 2007 Ebola outbreak in West Kasai province of Congo (DRC). September 2007.
© Pascale Zintzen/MSF

Another MSF emergency team has been in Kibaale district, in western Uganda, since late July in response to an outbreak that has killed 16 people.
However, these two outbreaks involve different strains of the virus: the Ebola-Bundibugyo strain in DRC and the Ebola-Sudan strain in western Uganda.
“The outbreak in Uganda and the one in DRC are not related,” says Olimpia de la Rosa, MSF emergency coordinator. “This strengthens the idea that the Ebola virus is transmitted by close contact, making it less likely to cross borders.”   ..uuhh what?
In Uganda’s Kibaale district, an MSF team is continuing to work with the Ugandan Ministry of Health and organisations including the Ugandan Red Cross, the US Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.

Ugandan epidemic contained ? [see previous story]

Indications are that the epidemic centred in the town of Kagadi is being successfully contained. The last confirmed case of Ebola was reported on 4th August. An outbreak is considered at an end after 42 days without any new confirmed cases.
Ebola haemorrhagic fever was detected for the first time in humans in 1976 in Zaire (now DRC). It is transmitted through body fluids and has a high mortality rate, depending on the strain of the virus and people’s genetic susceptibility to the disease.  http://www.msf.org.uk/articledetail.aspx?fId=Ebola_outbreak_in_DRC_20120823

Ebola Update: Patient dies in Kagadi Hospital

 One of the last two known Ebola positive patients in the country has died. The patient, Olivia Tumwebaze was undergoing treatment in Kagadi Government hospital in Kibaale district and has been battling the deadly Ebola virus for 19 days.
 Fears however continue to run through Kibaale District as more suspected alert cases were being admitted earlier this week.


http://www.facebook.com/ntvugandafanpage/posts/408299935885133

DRC: Back by killer waves of Ebola

By Rachel Kesseng with APA - 23/08/2012
Ten deaths from hemorrhagic fever were reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) north-east


Ebola, discovered 35 years ago in Zaire, continues to return regularly by the killer waves in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in particular Isiro, a city in the Eastern Province where the Ebola epidemic continues. 15 cases combined with signs of bleeding including 10 deaths, have been reported in 20 August 2012 by the World Health Organization (WHO), a case fatality rate of over 66%, according to the latest meeting of crisis held in Kisangani under the chairmanship of Provincial Minister of Health. Wednesday, August 22, 2012 Yesterday evening, there were ten people, including three members of the health personnel who had contact with the victims. Meanwhile, more than a hundred people are currently under surveillance after contact with infected patients.
 A WHO report published yesterday in Kinshasa Wednesday, August 22, indicates that apart from the health zones of Dungu and Isiro latter being the epicenter of the disease, Ebola hit two neighboring areas of health, including those of Pawa and Viadana in the district of Bas-Uele in Orientale Province in north-eastern DRC. Cases have been reported with one death and alerts recorded in riparian areas. But the strain that occurs in Isiro is considered less dangerous than the initial form of the virus called Zaire, discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River, whose name was given to this terrible hemorrhagic fever against which there is no treatment or vaccine.

 The epidemic of haemorrhagic fever Ebola Bundibugyo strain, was officially declared on 17 August by the Congolese Minister of Public Health, Felix Kabange Numbi. To cope, two emergency committees have been set up in Kinshasa and Kisangani. WHO, MSF, CDC-Atlanta and other partners have sent experts on site and provide technical support, logistics and financial authorities to curb the epidemic in APA also reports this information.
The Minister of Public Health and the WHO Representative in the DRC are expected to Isiro this Thursday, August 23 for a rapid assessment mission to strengthen the fight against this epidemic, the UN agency announced. This epidemic Congolese follows that which is declared in Uganda. But these two epidemics may have nothing to do with each other, strains are not the same. Prevention messages are broadcast towards the population, mainly hygiene measures.  http://journaldekin.com/article.php?aid=1326

U.S. DOD Has Running Start on Biosurveillance Strategy

08:13 GMT, August 23, 2012 WASHINGTON | The White House has issued the first U.S. National Strategy for Biosurveillance to quickly detect a range of global health and security hazards, and the Defense Department has a running start in implementing the new plan, a senior defense official said. Andrew C. Weber, assistant secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs, told American Forces Press Service that many of the activities described in the strategy are ongoing at DOD. Such efforts, he said, “have been a little bit siloed.” “So much of what we’re doing is integrating the efforts and working hard on the overlap between global security and global health, in what [President Barack Obama] refers to as global health security,” he said. Biosurveillance is defined as data gathering, analysis and interpretation of data related to disease activity and threats to human and animal health to achieve early warning, detection and situational awareness. In a letter that introduces the new strategy, Obama said the United States “must be prepared for the full range of threats, including a terrorist attack involving a biological agent [and] the spread of infectious diseases and food-borne illnesses.” The strategy calls for a coordinated approach involving federal, state, local and tribal governments; the private sector; nongovernmental organizations; and international partners. “It challenges us,” the president wrote, “to take full advantage of the advanced technologies, new vaccines, the latest science, and social media that can help keep our citizens safe. It describes the core functions and critical capabilities we need to succeed.” Within 120 days, the White House will complete a strategic implementation plan that lays out the required actions and responsibilities of all partners in the mission, Obama said. As the strategy is released, 43 U.S. states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds and mosquitoes, and about 700 cases and 26 deaths have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The virus was first isolated from a feverish woman in the West Nile District of Uganda in 1937, and from there it spread to Egypt, Israel, France and, in 1999, to the United States. According to CDC, the virus’s spread in the U.S is a milestone in its evolving history. Monitoring and understanding infectious disease always has been a DOD priority, Weber said, “because for much of our history we’ve been a global force, and we’ve had to understand what we call exotic infectious diseases.” Defense Department researchers developed many of the vaccines that protect against malaria, dengue fever and other diseases, he said, “and [Army Maj. (Dr.)] Walter Reed in the 19th century did groundbreaking work on the yellow fever virus.” The renewed focus on biosurveillance speeds up the convergence of traditional battlefield biodefense and health surveillance, Weber said. “It’s all about saving lives,” he added. “The sooner you recognize that a biological event is happening, the greater your ability to isolate it, contain it and prevent it from spreading around the world, like H1N1,” the novel swine flu virus whose spreading infections the World Health Organization announced as a pandemic on June 11, 2009. Many DOD components have long been directly involved in global biosurveillance. These include Weber’s office, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System Operations, called GEIS, which is part of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center. “Through our Armed Forces Health Surveillance Network and our Medical Research and Materiel Command,” Weber said, “we have a network of three U.S. Army and three U.S. Navy laboratories in places like Cairo, Egypt; Lima, Peru; Nairobi, Kenya; Bangkok, Thailand; and now in Tbilisi, Georgia.” Last week Weber, along with Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, rededicated a central public health reference laboratory in Tbilisi built with funding from the Pentagon’s Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. “This is a partnership with the government of Georgia, the Walter Reed Institute of Research and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control that will provide a regional biosurveillance hub linked to the World Health Organization so we can map, detect and understand infectious diseases circulating in the South Caucasus and the Black Sea regions,” Weber said. The other six GEIS laboratories focus on human health and disease carriers, or vectors, like birds and mosquitoes, he added, but the Georgia center will be different. “From the beginning on the Georgian side, [work on the center’s mission] includes their agricultural ministry, their health ministry and their national center for disease control,” Weber said. “On the U.S. side, we have participation from different parts of DOD, including the GEIS program and the Medical Research and Materiel Command, as well as other U.S. government partners like [CDC].” Internationally, he added, “we’re working with OIE -- the World Organization for Animal Health. … We’re also working with the Food and Agriculture Organization in .... ---- Cheryl Pellerin American Forces Press Service http://www.defpro.com/news/details/38572/?SID=2262d117f8ca3db52d3fa13bf326fa50

DRC: lifestyles of rural facilitate the spread of Ebola outbreak

 The doctor in charge of controlling communicable disease prevention at WHO, Dr. Vital Mondonge, stated Wednesday, August 22 during the weekly conference of the United Nations, that the fight against the spread of the Ebola epidemic will be played on prevention. . According to him, the lifestyles of rural Congolese facilitate contamination.
 "These are the usual work [rural] as hunting exposing them to the disease. . The infected person in the forest will transmit the disease to other villagers, "said Dr. Vital Mondonge. Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a disease of animal origin.. The first patient, identified in 1976 were contaminated by hunting apes and bats of the rainforest.
 . In addition, the doctor asked the Congolese people to respect the measures taken by the health authorities...   http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=fr&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://radiookapi.net/actualite/2012/08/22/rdc-les-modes-de-vie-des-populations-rurales-faciliteraient-la-propagation-de-lepidemie-debola/&usg=ALkJrhhBikOreLvvnOy7odV0B8M-QYWSuw

Ebola virus continues to kill in the DRC

 Ebola virus continues to kill in the DRC

  The Ebola outbreak continues Isiro, a city in the Eastern Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Wednesday, August 22, 2012 in the evening, there were ten people, including three members of the health personnel who had contact with the victims.  At last count we had ten deaths of 17 reported cases of Ebola.. More than a hundred people are currently under surveillance after contact with infected patients.

 

  http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pressafrik.com%2FLe-virus-Ebola-continue-a-tuer-en-RDC_a87963.html

ECDC Report

ECDC Report
It is unlikely, but not impossible, that travellers infected in DRC could arrive in the EU while incubating the disease and develop symptoms while in the EU.

[link to ecdc.europa.eu]

Resurgence of #Ebola, a total of 15 cases for 10 deaths

 Thursday, August 23, 2012

  Ebola haemorrhagic fever that has resurfaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo in recent days by the Eastern Province, covers the areas of health and Pawa Viadana in Bas Uele district, it was revealed yesterday Wednesday, August 22 at the joint press conference of the United Nations.

 The latest statistics supplied by the World Health Organization (WHO) that provides information on the cumulative total of 15 cases, all showing signs of bleeding including 10 deaths Is a fatality rate of over 66%.   http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lobservateur.cd%2Findex.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D7849%3Aepidemie-debola-en-ouganda-la-rdc-renforce-la-surveillance-aux-frontieres%26catid%3D44%3Apolitique%26Itemid%3D58

27,000 birds culled in central Quang Ngai province

Bird flu has recently been spreading widely to many localities in central Quang Ngai province, with more than 27,000 birds culled.
On August 22, veterinarians and authorities in Tu Nghia district culled 2,000 ducks at a farm in Nghia Thang commune after blood samples show that the ducks tested positive for the H5N1 virus.

There have been nine outbreaks of bird flu in Tu Nghia and Nghia Hanh districts since early August. More than 27,600 birds have died or been killed, most of which had not been vaccinated. Unfavourable weather has also been a factor in the large scale spread of the disease.

Nguyen Van Thuan, Deputy Head of the provincial Veterinary Department, said it has been working with local authorities to implement strict measures to prevent the disease spreading further by banning trading and transporting poultry in affected localities.

Quang Ngai proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and its Department of Animal Health provide two million more doses of vaccine and 20,000 litres of disinfectant to sterilize poultry pens and stamp out the disease

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/society/26075/society-in-brief-23-8.html

Conference Wednesday, August 22, 2012

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fradiookapi.net%2Ffiles%2FVerbatim-du-mercredi-22-ao%C3%BBt.pdf%3F55c0b5

http://radiookapi.net/files/Verbatim-du-mercredi-22-août.pdf?55c0b5

Mexico H7N3 -11million birds culled

The National Service of Health, Food Safety and Quality (Senasica) reported that the repopulation began laying hens in the previously empty disinfected poultry units that were contaminated by the virus of avian influenza A H7N3. Monthly enter 5 million birds and thereby restore egg production gradually. From this week began the second phase of vaccination with 90 million doses. From 19 June to 20 August were 10.9 million birds culled.  http://www.radioformula.com.mx/notas.asp?Idn=265025

Mexico-11 million slaughtered poultry from bird flu in Jalisco

 21/08/2012

Due to the outbreak of bird flu farms presented in Jalisco, the Senasica announces second phase of vaccination with the application of 90 million doses, 10.9 million birds slaughtered to prevent contagion
MEXICO CITY, Mexico, Aug. 21, 2012. - The Government of Mexico announced the start of the second stage of poultry vaccination before the outbreak of avian influenza AH7N3, which has led to the culling of nearly 11 million birds.The National Service of Health, Food Safety and Quality (Senasica) announced in a statement that the second stage will begin this week on farms in the region of Los Altos, Jalisco, and provides for the application of 90 million additional doses to 88.3 million applied in the first phase.Additionally, we have a reserve bank of 53 million vaccines and viral seeds for greater production if necessary, according to the director of Senasica, Enrique Sanchez Cruz.He also revealed that as of this month begins the repopulation of laying hens and will be around five million birds that enter monthly empty poultry units in which the agency intervened.He explained that this move will gradually restore egg production that was before the outbreak of avian influenza.To eradicate the virus from poultry farms, SENASICA, working with producers, has made stamping 10.9 million birds from 19 June to 20 August.In making an assessment of the first phase of combat the outbreak, Sanchez explained that this figure must be added corresponding to the measures applied by the poultry before the announcement of the presence of the virus to the authorities and the subsequent voluntary sacrifice made by own poultry farmers to protect their flocks.To date, there have been sampled in 438 production units in 45 municipalities of Los Altos, and only 43 of them (commercial farms posture) have tested positive for AH7N3 virus.The official reported that the program has strengthened epidemiological surveillance in the area and have been tested on farms in 22 of the 32 states of the country, with negative results.For now, the outbreak is localized exclusively in the highlands of Jalisco, said.The bird flu epidemic has caused an increase in the price of eggs and chicken meat in the domestic market, so that the authorities are considering reducing import tariffs on these products at competitive prices.Sanchez said the measures in support of the Secretariat of Economy to normalize the supply of eggs, has issued two weeks ago the health requirements to be met by producing countries that want to market their product in Mexico at this juncture of AH7N3.The National Poultry Union reported today that the increase in the price of a kilo of eggs is due primarily to the depopulation that caused the outbreak of avian influenza in Jalisco and the increase in the prices of corn and soybean meal used by the poultry industry to feed the birds.  http://noticierostelevisa.esmas.com/nacional/490001/sacrifican-11-millones-aves-gripe-aviar-jalisco/

Ko Wing-man said that the concern of the corpses of the dead bird with the bird flu virus samples collected in the summer increase

22/08/2012 11:58 AM

Ko Wing-man afternoon turn into a chicken farm in Yuen Long inspections, he said earlier in Bird Street, random testing of samples positive for avian flu, in addition to the dead bird corpses collected in the summer, with an increase in samples of the H5N1 avian influenza virus, the authorities Concerned about the situation. due to the avian influenza virus has a slight variation, not the effectiveness of existing vaccines, the new vaccine will be introduced before the winter.

http://www.metroradio.com.hk/997/News/Default.aspx?NewsID=5c639cc9-4b6e-4aa9-ad46-ac1f7ebed162

Vietnam-#H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in Cho Don (Bac Kan)

Last updated at 09:53, Wednesday, 08/22/2012 (GMT 7)


Nhan Dan Online-After appearing two H5N1 avian influenza outbreak, in which many new epidemic outbreaks simultaneously in Cho Don (Bac Kan). Provincial Department of Animal Health, said the disease is in danger of spreading in the area.



Three days, with further outbreaks of avian influenza H5N1 outbreak in groups 2, 3, and 6 in the town of Bang Lung and three Na Chang, A New and Sen Village, East List of Cho Don district. Agencies and local authorities carried out the destruction of the entire poultry outbreaks, chemical spray disinfection cages, set up checkpoints to disinfectants and media from the service outside, stop selling poultry in the villages surrounding area.

Earlier, appearing two H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in the 4 in the town of Bang Lung and Copyright Contact Village, Yen Thuong, Cho Don District. Although professional bodies and local authorities have culled all poultry in two outbreaks with a total of 500 children, spray disinfectant chemicals, set up checkpoints, but the disease has spread, outbreaks add new outbreak in the district.  http://www.nhandan.com.vn/cmlink/nhandandientu/thoisu/doi-song/i-s-ng-tin-chung/bung-phat-d-ch-cum-gia-c-m-h5n1-t-i-ch-n-1.363857

Vietnam- 2.3.2.1 slight mutation #H5N1

Deal with the bird flu virus has modified
5:53 PM, 22/08/2012

(VOV) - It is worrying that the H5N1 vaccine is only effective below 75% should not universal use in the prevention and control of avian influenza.Department of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: experimental results in 8/2012 shows the newly discovered group of H5N1 avian influenza virus in arm A (2.3.2.1) has changed a number of amino- acid.Although this virus is still attached to the 2.3.2.1 branch but there was a difference, the virulence of the virus group is the professional body research and evaluation. It is worrying that the H5N1 vaccine is only effective below 75% should not universal use in the prevention and control of avian influenza.Van Dang Ky, Head of Hygiene and Epidemiology - Department of Animal Health said the most effective way to protect poultry is still detected, localized translation. "At present we are mainly applied for early detection and destruction of human disease, hygiene and disinfection, management tightly outbreak, not to spread to other places. Currently we are making this problem very efficiently, and vaccine use in the northern, central and Central Highlands virtually very little use. We only use the vaccine program countries to encircle outbreak, reduce the spread only problem, "Ky said.
Animal Health Department warned, this stage of the season is very convenient for developing bird flu virus, so the local need close monitoring to detect early cases. At the same time, while no effective vaccine to prevent and control the situation cross-border smuggling of poultry to limit pathogen spread, making it difficult to work management epidemic  http://vov.vn/Home/Doi-pho-voi-virus-cum-gia-cam-co-su-bien-doi/20128/222112.vov

Market Vendors In Kakumiro Defy Ebola Ban

In defiance of the ban on public gatherings, a group of about 40 vendors from Mityana and Mubende districts on Wednesday displayed their merchandise in the market as usual. This attracted the attention of the sub county officials led by the Birembo LC3 Chairman, John Baruuli.

Read more: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=44782#ixzz24H0GOhlY

DRC: Three aides among the victims of the Ebola

KINSHASA (© 2012 AFP) - Three aides were among the nine people recently died of Ebola in the region of Isiro in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), reported Wednesday the World Health Organization (WHO).

Wednesday, August 22, 2012 | 12:42 UTC



 WHO / AFP / Christopher Black Archives. Members of Médecins sans Frontières caring for a man with Ebola in DRC

Of these 9 people, 8 died in Isiro, three nurses, WHO said in a statement. Another died in Dungu, towards the Ugandan border, and two cases were reported in Pawa, south of Isiro.
According to WHO, a team was formed with representatives from the Ministry of Health DRC, WHO and Doctors Without Borders to perform an epidemiological survey. For now WHO does not recommend travel restrictions or trade to the DRC.
These cases dating back to mid-August are the result of an outbreak in a neighboring region of Western Uganda but the virus has been detected is different from the one that hit Uganda. DRC is struck by the virus less virulent Bundibungyo-theoretically-, while in Uganda it is a strain that plagued Sudan.
Isiro, a city of 200,000 inhabitants in the Eastern Province, is located a few hundred kilometers of the affected region of Uganda.
Ugandan authorities have announced a week ago that the epidemic was "under control" but not yet eradicated. It has done so far 16 people and 165 people remain under observation.
Ebola hemorrhagic fever, a highly contagious, kills between 25 and 90% of patients, according to WHO. There is no treatment or vaccine. It is transmitted by direct contact with blood, bodily fluids (sweat, feces ...), by sex and by the mishandling of corpses contaminated.http://www.afriquinfos.com/articles/2012/8/22/trois-aides-soignants-parmi-victimes-fievre-ebola-208655.asp

Vietnam- #H5N1 in five districts 40 thousand birds were destroyed

H5N1 outbreak

- By this time, the H5N1 avian influenza has spread to five districts in Thanh Hoa and Ha Tinh provinces. Nearly 40 thousand birds were destroyed. While in Ha Tinh, stop signs, in Thanh Hoa, the risk of outbreak is very high.
 
H5N1 flu situation has appeared in Thanh Hoa province for more than a week in the local as Loc, the United Loc, Loc Thinh Hau Loc district.
Earlier in August, 2600 the son of the family flock Tong Van Luyen and more than 600 birds including chickens, ducks and his family Vu Van Duy in Peace village Thinh Loc unusual symptoms. The first few days I die then simultaneously infected herd.










Veterinarian vaccinating poultry flocks infected in Thanh Hoa.









Authorities take samples and test results positive for the H5N1 virus, the local authorities were quick to destroy the bird. Since the start of the outbreak, Thinh Loc commune with all 12 households with poultry infected with H5N1, with the total number of birds to be destroyed is 11,584 children.
The localities where the A/H5N1 flu has timely destruction of poultry suspected of being rabid, parallel to which is to strengthen the advocacy of animal husbandry, trade, movement of poultry products Bird flu alert, often organized sanitation, disinfection cages, established key security on duty 24/24 to prevent movement of poultry from other areas or from local out.
 

Sick birds die in Thach Tan Thach Ha district, Ha Tinh

  Before that, the end of July and the first days of August, in Yen Dinh District, and Sam Son town has also appeared status of birds killed by H5N1 influenza virus. According to statistics, nearly 600 children infected birds have been culled in the two localities.
Mr. Le Van Hien, Deputy Director of Thanh Hoa DARD said, after appearing bird flu, authorities instructed local prevention, zoning, do not spread disease. For two units is Sam Son and Yen Dinh far not arise any more bird flu drive.
In Hau Loc district, the destruction of infected poultry and poultry disease prevention spread is being strictly implemented. Thanh Hoa province has not announced bird flu in the province. "


In Ha Tinh, bird flu has appeared and spread over the past one month. 23/7, in two households in Cam Quan (Cam Xuyen district) and Thach Tan (Thach Ha district) appeared sick birds died.
According to Pham Thanh Binh, Director of the Department of Animal Health, Ha Tinh, H5N1 appeared in 17 in 2 Cam Xuyen and Thach Ha. There have been two thousand birds were destroyed, and many days, does not appear any outbreak. However, the information that we hold, in addition to the two districts, in Can Loc, Loc Ha, Ky He also appeared more households with infected poultry.The number of birds culled, in Cam Xuyen and Thach Ha, now has more than 3 thousand birds culled (Thach Ha 2.5 still, Cam Xuyen 6,100 children). Also in the spread Can Loc, Loc Ha, United Kingdom,
To 19/8 has spread to 17 communes in two districts with of poultry disease more than 3 thousand (in Thach Ha 2.5 still; Cam Xuyen 6,100). Can Loc district in the, Loc Ha States United Kingdom, there were 6,700 birds sick, dying to be destroyed. Total over 20 communes with a total bird damage to almost four thousand children.

http://vietnamnet.vn/vn/xa-hoi/85561/dich-h5n1-lai-dang-bung-phat.html