From 24 to 31 May 2020, no new confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have been reported in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The source of infection of the cluster reported in April 2020 remains unconfirmed.
From 24 to 31 May 2020, an average of 2895 alerts were reported and investigated per day. Of these, an average of 429 alerts were validated as suspected cases each day, requiring specialized care and laboratory testing to rule out EVD. In the past three weeks, the alert rate has notably improved in Beni and Butembo sub-coordinations. Timely testing of suspected cases continues to be provided from eight laboratories. From 25 to 31 May 2020, 3017 samples were tested, including 2295 blood samples from alive, suspected cases; 308 swabs from community deaths; and 414 samples from re-tested patients. Overall, the number of samples tested by the laboratories was similar to the previous week.
As of 28 May 2020, a total of 3463 EVD cases, including 3317 confirmed and 146 probable cases have been reported, of which 2280 cases died (overall case fatality ratio 66%), and 1171 have recovered. Of the total confirmed and probable cases, 57% (n=1970) were female, 29% (n=1002) were children aged less than 18 years, and 5% (n=171) were health care workers.
In a new development, the Ministry of Health in Democratic Republic of the Congo notified WHO, on 1 June 2020, of a fresh outbreak of Ebolavirus disease (EVD) in Mbandaka, Équateur Province. The event initially involved a cluster of four deaths that occurred between 18 and 30 May 2020. The index case is a 27-year-old female who reportedly died in Wangata hospital on 18 May 2020. Three other case-patients from the same community in Air Congo Quarter of Wangata fell ill and died with a similar illness in the subsequent days, with the last death occurring on 30 May 2020. A swab specimen was collected from the last deceased case-patient while no specimens were obtained from the three initial deceased case-patients. No safe and dignified burial was performed.
On 31 May 2020, a health worker who attended to the initial case-patients, along with his wife, presented with symptoms and both have been isolated in Wangata hospital. The swab specimen collected from the last deceased case-patient and two blood specimens obtained from the two casepatients currently admitted tested positive for Ebola virus, Zaire Ebolavirus species, by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), Kinshasa on 1 June 2020. As of 2 June 2020, a total of eight EVD cases, including three confirmed and three probable and two suspected cases have been reported. Of the eight cases, four have died, giving a case fatality ratio of 50%. Two active confirmed and two suspected case are in admission and are being managed in Wangata hospital. Further investigations into this event are ongoing and updates will be provided as information becomes available.Please click here to download the complete situation report (PDF).