032421 – World Health Report

This report intends to give the UTD Community a snapshot of international health risks as reported by the linked official sources from the U.S. and other countries.

Please note the revision date (mmddyy) of this report, printed on the title of the post, and go to the direct sources listed for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this report may change without prior notice.

Ebola

• Democratic Republic of the Congo * Communicable disease threats report, 14-20 March 2021, week 11 * Ebola. Update of the week. Since last update on 12 March 2021, and as of 17 March 2021, one death has been reported by WHO of a patient with confirmed diagnosis who was being treated in the Ebola Treatment Centre (ETC) in Katwa. The probable case resulting in a death in the community that was reported on 11 March, was from the Biena Health Zone. As of 17 March, no new confirmed cases have been reported for the 16th consecutive day. Media reported that healthcare providers ceased activities on 13 March 2021 and threatened to go on further strikes at the ETC in Katwa, due to unsatisfactory salaries. In addition, ring vaccination has had to be suspended in Butembo due to security threats. Other challenges remain, such as receiving a much lower number of (false) alerts than expected in some affected and at-risk health zones, indicating a malfunctioning surveillance system, as well as some contacts remaining unseen. A total of 345 contacts have been identified since the start of the outbreak, 286 (83%) of which were followed-up. Most of these contacts are in their second or third weeks of follow-up. Most never-seen contacts are listed around the probable case from the Biena Health Zone.
• Guinea * Communicable disease threats report, 14-20 March 2021, week 11 * Ebola. Update of the week. Since last update on 12 March 2021, and as of 17 March 2021, no new cases nor deaths have been reported by WHO. Six suspected cases have been reported in patients who are currently isolated and monitored in NZerekore. Four more patients have recovered. The last case was reported on 4 March 2021. The source of infection of the index case is unknown. However, preliminary results of genomic sequencing indicate that the index case of the 2021 Guinea cluster was likely infected from a persistent source, suggesting that the virus from the 2013-2016 West Africa epidemic survived and re-emerged. The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE) will convene between 22 and 25 March to discuss the implications and possible solutions of this finding around the understanding of this phenomenon, the treatment of cases, and the care of survivors. The vaccine has now been dispatched to Boke in the Boke region (north-west of Guinea) and to Siguiri in the Kankan region (north-east of Guinea), where local staff have been trained to provide vaccinations. A total of 368 contacts have been identified, (341) 93% of which are being monitored. However, 27 contacts are lost to follow­up. In addition, WHO report that an additional contact has migrated within Guinea, therefore in total, five contacts have migrated, four of which internal to Guinea in Conakry (Conakry region), Dinguiraye (Faranah region), Yomou (NZerekore region) and Tougue(Labe region), and one outside of Guinea to Cote dIvoire. They are actively being sought.

Please note the revision date (mmddyy) of this report, printed on the title of the post, and go to the direct sources listed for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this report may change without prior notice.