27 new Ebola cases reported in eastern DR Congo
Kigali, Rwanda (PANA) - Despite a recent drop in Ebola cases in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 27 new infections of the deadly disease were reported last week in this outbreak hot spot region, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said Friday.
Confirmed cases were reported from seven health areas in four health zones: Mabalako (67%), Beni (22%), Mandima (7%), and Oicha (4%).
This is a substantial increase in the number of reported cases, compared to the average of seven confirmed cases for the previous three weeks. the UN agency said, indicating that all cases were linked to three transmission chains.
In addition, health experts believe that the majority of the new cases were linked to a single chain of transmission, in which one individual was a potential source of infection for 17 people.
However, an investigation is ongoing to understand the circumstances around this case.
Reports indicated that in the past week, there were six new cases among health workers; five of which were traditional practitioners, bringing the total number of health workers infected in this outbreak to 169 (5% of all reported cases).
In Beni and Mabalako Health Zones, the overall average percentage of contacts under surveillance in the last seven days has returned to levels seen prior to the security events in past weeks.
The new cases raise the outbreak total to 3,340, including 2,210 deaths; in addition, 118 suspected cases are under investigation.
Of the total confirmed and probable cases, 56% (n=1881) were female, and 28% (n=941) were children aged less than 18 years, the statement said.
-0- PANA TWA/AR 13Dec2019
