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Africa CDC cautions against declaring DR Congo Ebola outbreak controlled
Ebola is still spreading in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Health officials have seen fewer cases during the past two weeks.
However, they say this does not yet prove that the outbreak is ending.
The outbreak has affected 60 health zones in six provinces.
Four health zones have had no new cases for more than 42 days.
But 51 health zones still have active transmission.
Many people are dying in their communities instead of reaching treatment quickly.
Africa CDC says responders must continue working because the outbreak remains dangerous.
Africa CDC says it is too early to declare the outbreak under control.
The DRC reported 6,250 confirmed cases and 3,039 deaths as of Sept. 1.
Four health zones have reported no new cases for more than 42 days.
Transmission remains active in 51 health zones across six provinces.
More than 60 percent of deaths in the past week occurred in communities.
- Who
- The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the DRC government, and Ebola response teams; Africa CDC official Wessam Mankoula gave the assessment.
- What
- Officials said it is too early to declare the Ebola outbreak under control despite recent signs of stabilization.
- Where
- The outbreak is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, across 60 health zones in six provinces.
- When
- The assessment was reported on Thursday, using government figures as of Sept. 1 and community death data from the preceding seven days.
- Why
- Transmission remains active in 51 health zones, and delays in detection and access to medical care continue.
Signs of stabilization
Reasons for caution
Recent case numbers
Signs of stabilization
Africa CDC reported a decline in cases over the previous two weeks.
Reasons for caution
Wessam Mankoula said it was too early to call the decline sustained.
Transmission status
Signs of stabilization
Four health zones had interrupted transmission, and five more had gone at least 21 days without a new case.
Reasons for caution
Transmission was still active in 51 health zones.
Response progress
Signs of stabilization
The presence of recovered patients and zones with no recent cases indicates some response progress.
Reasons for caution
More than 60 percent of recent deaths occurred in communities, suggesting delayed detection and continued difficulty accessing care.
Key facts
- Confirmed cases
- 6,250 as of Sept. 1, according to the latest government situation report.
- Deaths
- 3,039 as of Sept. 1; the reported case fatality rate was 48.6 percent.
- Recoveries
- 1,439 patients had recovered as of Sept. 1.
- Geographic spread
- The outbreak affected 60 health zones across six provinces.
- Health zones without recent cases
- Four had interrupted transmission after more than 42 days without a new case; five others had gone 21 to 42 days.
- Active transmission
- Transmission remained active in 51 health zones.
- Community deaths
- More than 60 percent of deaths recorded over the previous seven days occurred in communities.
Quotes
Wessam Mankoula
Africa CDC official speaking at an online press briefing
“For the last two weeks, we are seeing a decline in the number of cases”
thehansindia.com
“it's very early to say we have a sustained decline in this outbreak”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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