Resurgence of Ebola virus disease in Butembo, North Kivu

The Humanitarian Coordinator of the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo expresses his support to the authorities and the populations of the affected areas Kinshasa.

Almost eight months after the end of the 10th epidemic outbreak, the Ebola virus disease resurfaced in Butembo in North Kivu. Two people have already died from the disease in recent days. The Humanitarian Coordinator in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mr. David McLachlan-Karr expresses concern over this resurgence of the Ebola virus disease and encourages the commitment of the humanitarian community to support the Congolese authorities and the populations of the affected areas . "I express all my support and all my confidence in the Congolese authorities, and call on them to take swift and decisive action to protect all contact persons in order to prevent the spread of the virus" declared Mr. McLachlan- Karr. 

In support of the authorities, WHO and other partners have mobilized to launch the first response actions in the health zones concerned. Currently, nearly 10,000 doses of vaccine are available in the country, and some are on their way to the town of Butembo. “The Democratic Republic of the Congo has health professionals experienced in the fight against Ebola virus disease. As we had done during previous epidemics, we promise to quickly mobilize partners to support the Government's efforts, ”said McLachlan-Karr. “The priority is now to ensure good coordination of operational partners in the field for the tracing of contact cases and their vaccination as well as the management of suspected cases. "

The fight against the tenth epidemic outbreak, the deadliest to date in the DRC, lasted almost two and a half years, claiming nearly 2,300 lives in eastern DRC. An eleventh Ebola outbreak killed 55 people in Equateur province between June and November 2020. 

“Humanitarian organizations have learned lessons from the last two outbreaks of the Ebola epidemic. It is on the basis of this experience that we are monitoring the situation, implementing measures to protect the communities concerned and front-line workers, but also to avoid any abuses that may have tainted and hampered the work of humanitarian workers during the previous response in eastern DRC. » Underlined Mr. McLachlan-Karr

Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Editor