FACTS
• On September 4, the DRC Ministry of Health officially declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Bulape and Mweka health zones in Kasai province. Since then, the virus has spread to Bambale, Bulape and the surrounding community, Dikolo, Ingongo and Mpianga health areas, inside of Bulape Health Zone.
• According the the World Health Organization, as of September 29, there have been 53 confirmed and 11 probable cases of EVD, and 42 deaths (31 confirmed, 11 probable) in Bulape Health Zone.
• Gaps remain in the response, including in case-management capacity, blood supplies and more.
OUR RESPONSE
• International Medical Corps has been responding in the DRC since 1999, and currently has offices in Goma and Kinshasa.
• We immediately deployed a Rapid Response Team (RRT) to Kasai, to support coordination of case management and infection prevention and control (IPC) efforts. Staff members have set up a temporary isolation unit at the Ingongo Health Facility in Bulape Health Zone, as well as a screening and referral unit.