As the current Ebola virus outbreak in the DRC approaches the one year mark, two new developments may dramatically shape the outbreak and response in the weeks and months to come.
On 14 July, the first Ebola virus disease (EVD) case was identified in the city of Goma, the capital and largest city of the North Kivu province. The individual became ill while working in the EVD hot spot of Butembo (the second largest city in North Kivu) before travelling by bus and motorbike to Goma. Despite passing undetected through several health checkpoints on the roads, the individual was rapidly identified as a potential EVD case upon presenting at a local health center in Goma.
Goma is home to nearly two million people, is 1km from border with Rwanda and with the region’s international airport, is a major gateway to other regions of the DRC and beyond.
If additional cases are identified in Goma (such as from the bus passengers), the spread of the infection could be significantly increased. However, health teams in Goma had been preparing for potential cases and were able to rapidly respond. The individual was quickly transferred to an Ebola Treatment Center and many (but not all) of his contacts have been identified and vaccinated. For now, it is a matter of waiting to see if this is a lone case or the start of a new chapter in this tragic outbreak.
Following on the identification of EVD in Goma, on 17 July the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), emphasising the need for a coordinated international response.
The WHO provided a series of recommendations that range from increased border screening to preparedness planning in neighbouring countries, though they specifically recommended against any restrictions in travel or trade that could cause economic damage to the region and limit the delivery of aid.
While it is hoped that the declaration of a PHEIC will spur the international community into enhanced action, there is also fear that an increase in responding organisations will further complicate the delicate and slow process of gaining and maintaining community trust.
However, the first WHO recommendation in the PHEIC declaration is to “continue to strengthen community awareness, engagement, and participation”. With enhanced international resources and a focus on community engagement, it is hoped that this declaration will create a positive turning point in the outbreak. We will continue to report on this outbreak and its implications over the coming weeks and months.
