DRC Documents 12 New Ebola Cases In Continuing Outbreak; Vaccine Effective But Teams Unable To Reach Vulnerable Populations

CIDRAP News: Ebola outbreak grows by 12 as CDC issues new HCW advice
“[Thursday] the health ministry of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) confirmed another 12 cases of Ebola in an ongoing outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. The cases raise the outbreak total to 1,302…” (Soucheray, 4/18).

The Lancet: DR Congo Ebola outbreak not given PHEIC designation
“Even as the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) reached new records for daily infections last week, experts convened by WHO opted not to declare a public health emergency. The designation of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) would galvanize international attention and funds and might induce border-spanning measures to stop the spread of the disease or compel travel and trade restrictions…” (Green, 4/20).

Science: Ebola outbreak continues despite powerful vaccine
“New data show that an experimental Ebola vaccine is ‘highly effective’ and appears to have helped contain a long-lasting outbreak of the deadly disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but the conflict-ridden region has kept vaccine teams from reaching many people who need it…” (Cohen, 4/19).

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