WHO Africa office says DR Congo Ebola outbreak has rebounded, with 4,646 deaths to Oct 19
In short
The WHO's Africa regional office said in a report released on 21 October that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has rebounded, with new confirmed cases rising again. As of 19 October the country had reported 9,637 confirmed cases, including 4,646 deaths, and the disease has spread to other African countries.
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The World Health Organization's Africa regional office said in its latest outbreak report, released on 21 October, that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has rebounded, with recent new confirmed cases rising again. Xinhua reported that the disease is also spreading to other African countries, which makes control harder. CLS and Yicai carried the same finding on 22 October, Yicai citing Xinhua. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to the report, as relayed by Xinhua, daily new confirmed cases in the DR Congo rose gradually after the outbreak was declared in May. They peaked in late July and mid-August and stayed high and fluctuating until September. New cases fell back for a time in late September but rebounded in early October. The recent small upward trend suggests transmission intensity has increased again, the report said. [ 3 , 4 ]
As of 19 October the DR Congo had reported 9,637 confirmed cases, including 4,646 deaths, and the outbreak had reached 8 of the country's 26 provinces, Xinhua reported. CLS gave the same totals on 21 October, attributing them to the DR Congo's national biomedical research institute. [ 1 , 4 ]
The WHO said the outbreak remains in a "critical stage" and is spreading within the DR Congo and across borders. Worsening security, displacement and blocked humanitarian aid access continue to hamper the response and raise the risk of hidden transmission, it said. [ 4 ]
Kenya has reported 9 confirmed cases in total. The 8 newer cases are all epidemiologically linked to the first imported case and were already in isolation when symptoms appeared. Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case on 20 October, in a woman who entered from Uganda earlier in the month. The WHO warned that the long interval between onset and confirmation could mean undetected virus exposure and secondary transmission. [ 4 ]
The Africa CDC said in a statement on 21 October that the outbreak has spread to central, eastern and western Africa and requires coordinated action. It will hold a high-level video conference of African health ministers on 28 October to assess the situation and strengthen cross-border coordination. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The WHO said the outbreak is in a "critical stage" and that spread to other countries makes control harder. The Africa CDC said the outbreak has reached central, eastern and western Africa and called for coordinated action.
Key facts
- The WHO Africa regional office released a report on 21 October saying the Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo has rebounded and new confirmed cases are rising again. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- As of 19 October the DR Congo had reported 9,637 confirmed cases, including 4,646 deaths. [ 1 , 4 ]
- The outbreak has affected 8 of the country's 26 provinces. [ 4 ]
- Daily new confirmed cases peaked in late July and mid-August, fell back in late September and rebounded in early October, according to the report. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Kenya has reported 9 confirmed cases cumulatively; Nigeria confirmed its first case on 20 October. [ 4 ]
- The Africa CDC will hold a high-level video conference of African health ministers on 28 October. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The DR Congo Ebola outbreak has rebounded, with recent new confirmed cases rising again, according to the WHO Africa regional office report of 21 October. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- As of 19 October the DR Congo had 9,637 confirmed Ebola cases and 4,646 deaths. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case on 20 October; the patient is a woman who arrived from Uganda earlier in the month. [ 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the Ebola virus has spread undetected in Nigeria. Xinhua reported the WHO warned that the long gap between onset and confirmation of the Nigerian case may mean undetected exposure and secondary transmission.
- How much hidden transmission is occurring in the DR Congo. Xinhua reported the WHO said worsening security, displacement and blocked humanitarian access hinder the response and raise the risk of hidden transmission; no figures are given.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 21 October CLS published the DR Congo institute's figures: 9,637 confirmed cases and 4,646 deaths as of 19 October. [ 1 ]
- On 22 October CLS reported the WHO Africa office's finding that the outbreak had rebounded. [ 2 ]
- Yicai published the report on the rebound, citing Xinhua. [ 3 ]
- Xinhua published its full report from Kinshasa dated 21 October. [ 4 ]