The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Since the outbreak was declared in August 2018, 2522 EVD cases have been reported with 1698 deaths (case fatality ratio of 67%); 56% of the cases were female, 29% were children, and 5% were health workers. As of July 14, 2019, at least one case of EVD was reported in Goma, a city of about 2 million close to the Rwandan border, and 67 health areas within 20 health zones in the DRC have reported 245 new cases within the last three weeks. The WHO does not recommend restricting travel or trade with the DRC since it is necessary to move medical supplies across borders and ensure the livelihoods of the people most affected by the EVD outbreak are not compromised. Dr. Robert R. Redfield, Director of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stated that the “CDC stands ready to support our U.S. government and international partners in limiting the spread of Ebola, improving the human condition and bringing this outbreak to an end.”
References:
- WHO News Release. Ebola outbreak in The Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, 17 July 2019
- CDC Newsroom Release. CDC supports WHO declaration of “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” for Ebola outbreak in eastern region of The Democratic Republic of the Congo, 17 July 2019.
- WHO Disease Outbreak News: Update. Ebola virus disease—Democratic Republic of the Congo, 18 July 2019.
