Combined Monthly Ebola Operations Update No 25
Current epidemiological situation + country-specific information
During week 35 (24 - 30 August 2015), two EVD cases were confirmed in Guinea in the prefectures of Conakry (in Ratoma quarter) and Dubréka (Dubréka - centre). Compared to the week 34 (17-23 August 2015), three cases were confirmed in Conakry (in Ratoma quarter). During week 35, three prefectures remained ‘’in red’’ i.e. with 6 cases in Conakry, 1 in Forécariah and 1 in Dubréka. The confirmed case in Dubréka is linked to a community death.
The number of new cases however continues to decrease with an average of two cases reported per week only. Nine cases were reportedly declared positive in the last two weeks of August. About 89 per cent of transmission chains are now from known contacts, which allow a better surveillance and control; however, 16 cases have evaded from surveillance and cannot be traced back for treatment.
Due to the extension of the measure – “SDB to all deaths” by the Guinean government on the 25th of June 2015, the number of SDB conducted by the Guinea Red Cross (GRC) teams which had tremendously increased, reaching an alltime high mark by end of July.716 in the week ending 5 July, averaging nearly 700 a week for a four-week total of 2,764. In August, this trend slightly slew down with 3,454 SDBs in total and an average of 690 SDBs per week.
Liberia was again declared EVD free again on the 3rd of September after 42 days since the last positive case was discharged. Current focus is on improving swabbing for all deaths, border surveillance and provision of psychosocial support (PSS) – which remains high priority for Government of Liberia and among key stakeholders in fight against the disease. There is also need to promote safe sexual practices for all survivors until tested negative, and to address issues of pregnant women accessing antenatal care. Current issues affecting survivors include loss of income, PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder) and forced change of residence.
In Sierra Leone, a new confirmed case was reported in the week to 30 August - the first case reported in over two weeks. Kambia, which borders the Guinean prefecture of Forecariah had not reported a confirmed case for 48 days. A rapid-response team was immediately deployed to the area. As at 30th of August a total of 48 contacts had been identified, although this figure is expected to rise in due course. The origin of infection remains under investigation. No health worker infections were reported in the week to 30 August.