HIGHLIGHTS
• 2 Ebola cases were confirmed on 14 and 20 January 2016 in Tonkolili. By 11 February, all contacts of the index case had completed followup. If no further cases are detected, transmission linked to this last cluster of cases will be declared to have ended on 17 March. During the reporting period, the affected communities were all fully discharged from quarantine, with no subsequent positive cases reported.
• In response to the EVD cases in Tonkolili, UNICEF continued to support the quarantined communities in the affected districts of Tonkolili, Kambia and Port Loko. In the context of emergency preparedness, UNICEF was identified by the Inter-Agency Rapid Response Team as Incident Manager to lead the response in Tonkolili and Kambia.
• UNICEF support to the overall response included provision of water and hygiene kits, psychosocial support, and learning materials to the communities. In Kambia and Bombali, UNICEF also provided support to the Ebola Treatment Centers for Infection Prevention and Control and WASH activities.
• Through intensified community engagement, all missing contacts in the district of Kambia willingly returned to their communities. The EVD event was therefore officially closed. With a view to adjusting subsequent response to future events, should they arise, UNICEF contributed to the lessons learned exercise conducted by the InterAgency Rapid Response Team.