Two Ebola isolation centres open in Kasindi, DR Congo
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Beto
Two isolation centres for suspected Ebola cases are operational in Kasindi, in Beni territory, North Kivu. Set up at two health centres with support from the World Health Organisation, they have received three tonnes of infection prevention and control equipment, according to the WHO.
Two isolation centres for suspected Ebola cases are operational in Kasindi, the main border crossing between DR Congo and Uganda, in Beni territory, North Kivu. They were set up at the Lubiriha and La Frontière health centres after a three-day mission carried out with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Beto reports.
The WHO provided three tonnes of equipment for infection prevention and control. It describes the facilities as a first line of defence for rapidly identifying suspected cases, referring them without delay and limiting the risk of spread.
The arrangements respond to an alert issued on 19 October by Germain Kamaliro, chief medical officer of the Mutwanga health zone. He had reported the lack of an Ebola transit or treatment centre in his area, forcing suspected patients to be evacuated. At that time, Kasindi had recorded nine cases, including four deaths, while Mutwanga had recorded 31 positive cases, including four recoveries, with seven of its 21 health areas affected.
These isolation centres receive suspected cases while samples are taken and patients are referred, but do not replace an Ebola treatment centre for confirmed cases. Their opening follows the discharge of 13 recovered patients from centres in Beni on 27 October.
