New Ebola transmission chain drives up cases in Mandima, DR Congo
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Lepotentiel
A new Ebola transmission chain in Mandima has been accompanied by a rise in cases and could put healthcare capacity under pressure, Steve Ahuka Mundeke, head of the response in the DR Congo, said. Active outbreaks in southern Ituri and northern North Kivu remain difficult to control, particularly because of insecurity and population displacement, he said.
The resumption of an Ebola transmission chain in Mandima is already leading to a rise in cases and is expected to increase pressure on healthcare, Professor Steve Ahuka Mundeke, head of Ebola response management in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said after a supervisory mission in Ituri and North Kivu. He described the resurgence as a new challenge for health teams.
Outbreaks remain active in southern Ituri and northern North Kivu. In Beni territory, the Musienene and Kalinguta health zones are difficult to reach because of insecurity and areas beyond the authorities’ control. Teams are working remotely with the World Health Organization and Médecins Sans Frontières to maintain interventions, Mr Ahuka Mundeke said.
Movement of residents between health zones increases the risk of transmission. The official called for stronger coordination between provinces and surveillance at entry points to detect suspected cases quickly. He also noted a gradual fall in cases in some areas, which he attributed to communities’ cooperation with response teams.
The mission, conducted with Africa CDC, the WHO and the Provincial Health Division, visited the general referral hospitals in Musienene, Kalinguta and Butembo. It follows Steve Ahuka Mundeke’s assessment of the health response in Beni on 17 October, during an outbreak in which MSF had reported more than 8,500 cases and 4,000 deaths as of 6 October.
