August 29, 2018 — Ebola virus in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, continues to spread at a rapid and alarming rate. With 112 confirmed and probable cases and 75 deaths, the case fatality ratio is high, and health workers face heightened risk due to increased exposure. The outbreak, which was declared on August 1st, has now spread to Oicha health zone, an area almost entirely surrounded by armed militants, making the delivery of health services even more challenging. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is supporting 37 health facilities in North Kivu to strengthen infection control practices, and put in a system for triage, isolation, and referral of suspected Ebola cases.
Michelle Gayer, Senior Director of Emergency Health at the International Rescue Committee, said: “With more than fifty armed groups operating in North Kivu, many areas are inaccessible to aid groups due to insecurity. Beni itself was the deadliest territory of the Kivus this month with 33 violent deaths of civilians recorded. If someone contracts Ebola in one of these areas, there is almost no way of knowing and, therefore, no way of cutting the chain of transmission. The news of two confirmed cases in Oicha is extremely distressing, because the area is almost entirely surrounded by armed militants. The IRC has health staff working in the area who have been trained in proper protocols should they receive a suspected case.
"The international community should be learning from 2014, when the worst Ebola outbreak in modern history swept across West Africa. Without a swift, concerted and efficient response, this outbreak has the potential to be the worst ever seen in East Africa — and risks being an encore of history we simply cannot afford. Just like in the 2014 pandemic, community sensitization is of the utmost importance.
"North Kivu is one of the most populous provinces in the country with 8 million inhabitants, bordering with four other provinces and both Uganda and Rwanda. We know the community is resisting changes to traditional burial practices and fear bringing affected loved ones to health clinics. We must counteract these myths immediately to stymie the spread of the disease. Safe burials protect everyone in the community. The earlier patients are treated, the higher their survival. And the earlier their contacts are vaccinated, the more they are protected. ”
The IRC has been operating in the DRC since 1996 and is a lead humanitarian actor in North Kivu, providing healthcare, women’s protection and empowerment, reproductive health, and child protection to hundreds of thousands of people affected by conflict. The IRC mobilized an Ebola response within hours of the announcement of the outbreak and is strengthening infection control practices and providing protective equipment and supplies to 37 health facilities, as well as training and mentoring ministry of health staff to identify, isolate and refer suspected cases. Via existing teams in the area, the IRC is also educating the community about the Ebola virus and highlighting the necessary precautions and steps to take if symptoms occur.
With more than 13 million people in need of aid, DRC is one of the world’s most complex, chronic and long-standing humanitarian crises. More than one million displaced people live in North Kivu alone, a province caught in longstanding violence at the hands of militias and tribal groups which has led to the breakdown of critical government systems. With this combination of insecurity, community resistance and failing health institutions, this outbreak poses incredibly worrying risks to an extremely vulnerable region. The international community, including donors, must act now.