Description of the Situation
No new confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have been reported in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 27 April 2020 (Figure 1).
The source of infection of the cluster reported in April 2020 remains unconfirmed.
From 4 to 10 June 2020, an average of 3357 alerts were reported per day, of which 3346 (over 99%) were investigated within 24 hours. Of these, an average of 545 alerts were validated as suspected cases each day, requiring specialized care and laboratory testing to rule-out EVD. The number of reported and validated alerts has remained stable in recent weeks. Timely testing of suspected cases continues to be provided from eight laboratories. From 1 to 7 June 2020, 3130 samples were tested including 2421 blood samples from alive, suspected cases; 331 swabs from community deaths; and 378 samples from re-tested patients. Overall, the number of samples tested by the laboratories increased by 4% compared to the previous week.
As of 9 June 2020, a total of 3463 EVD cases, including 3317 confirmed and 146 probable cases have been reported, of which 2280 cases died (overall case fatality ratio 66%), and 1171 have recovered. Of the total confirmed and probable cases, 57% (n=1970) were female, 29% (n=1002) were children aged less than 18 years, and 5% (n=171) were health care workers.
Handover of outbreak response and surveillance activities from the central government and International partners to the Provincial Health Department (DPS) started on 1 June and is ongoing.
For information about the EVD outbreak in Équateur Province see the WHO Regional Office for Africa Ebola Virus Disease Situation Report issued 9 June 2020.
Figure 1: Confirmed and probable Ebola virus disease cases by week of illness onset by health zone. Data as of 9 June 2020*
*Excludes n=68/3463 cases for whom onset dates not reported. Data in recent weeks are subject to delays in case confirmation and reporting, as well as ongoing data cleaning. ‘Non-active zones’ indicate health zones that have not reported new cases in the last 42 days.
Table 1: Confirmed and probable Ebola virus disease cases, and number of health areas affected, by health zone, North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, data as of 9 June 2020**
Public Health Response
For further information about public health response actions by the Ministry of Health, WHO, and partners, please refer to the latest situation reports published by the WHO Regional Office for Africa:
WHO Risk Assessment
On 14 April 2020, WHO revised the risk assessment for this event from High to Moderate at the national and regional levels, while the risk level remained Low at the global level. The risk assessment will be continuously reassessed in the coming days based on available and shared information.
For further information, please see the Statement on the meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee for Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 14 April 2020
WHO Advice
Further Information
WHO resources and information on Ebola virus disease
WHO resources and information on Ebola survivors
WHO recommended criteria for declaring the end of the Ebola virus disease outbreak