05/14/2018: Lab Update: Ebola Outbreak Democratic Republic of Congo 2018

Audience: All LOCS members

Subject: Ebola Outbreak, Democratic Republic of Congo, 2018

Dear LOCS members,

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working closely with the Ministry of Health and Population of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and multiple partners as they investigate an outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Bikoro region of Equateur Province in the northwestern part of the country.  The DRC government declared the outbreak on May 8 after two cases were confirmed by laboratory testing at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in Kinshasa. CDC is assisting the DRC government and local and international partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), as they identify priority areas of support, including establishing an outbreak response platform; implementing surge support for deployment of personnel, supplies, laboratory materials, operational support, logistics, and transportation; and identifying communication needs to support the partners and the response.

A 2014 EVD outbreak that occurred in a different part of Equateur Province was limited in size due to the remoteness of the area and low population density. A 2017 outbreak in the Bas Uele Province of DRC was also quickly contained and limited in size. For more information on the current outbreak, see the WHO’s May 11 news release.

Sincerely,

Laboratory Outreach Communication System