Ebola outbreak: SA on high alert

The South African department of health is on high alert following the reported outbreak of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

On May 12, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that nine suspected cases and three deaths of people with Ebola virus disease (EVD) were reported from a remote forested area in the Likati health zone, Bas Uele Province in the north of the DRC, bordering Central African Republic.

As of May 20, a total of 37 suspected EVD cases and four deaths had been reported, giving a case fatality rate of 11%.

The reported cases are from five areas, Nambwa (12 cases and three deaths), Muma (four cases and no deaths), Ngayi (16 cases and one death), Azande (three cases and no deaths), and Ngabatala (two cases and no deaths).

No healthcare workers have been affected to date.

The majority of the cases presented with fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea and other bleeding symptoms and signs. The outbreak currently remains confined to Likati health zone.

The DRC ministry of health, WHO and various partners are working closely to control the outbreak through strengthened epidemiological surveillance and implementation of a comprehensive logistics plan, including deployment of teams comprising experts in epidemiology, clinical management, social mobilisation and risk communication.

This is the eighth EVD outbreak in the DRC since 1976. The last outbreak occurred in 2014, with 66 cases and 49 deaths.

The DRC has successfully contained previous EVD outbreaks and has capacity and resources to respond appropriately.

There is a low risk of transmission to South Africa. However, the South African emergency departments and clinicians are advised to be on the alert for cases of fever and/or haemorrhagic symptoms amongst returning travellers from the area.

It should be noted that malaria remains the most common and most dangerous cause of fever among persons returning from African destinations.