HIGHLIGHTS
Since March 17, day 79 of the 90 day active surveillance period, Guinea has registered nine cases of EVD, among which six were confirmed cases, including an 8 year-old girl. Five of the confirmed cases are from Koropara and the other case is from the urban commune of Nzérékoré.
Previously, during the first two weeks of March, 3 people (1 man and his 2 wives) died consecutively without safe burials, which alerted local health authorities to conduct investigations.
As of 5 April, a total of 1,342 contacts have been registered by WHO contact tracing teams. Among these contacts, 242 are considered of high risk (direct contacts of confirmed cases).
UNICEF deployed a total 13 staff from the country office to support the 18 staff based in the Nzérékoré field office to implement the micro-containment strategy starting on 24 March, targeting 181 households throughout 4 villages for 21 days.
In support to the new EVD outbreak of Koropara, UNICEF supply delivered 300 mosquito nets, 44 mattresses, 5 tents to accommodate humanitarian workers, tarpaulin, sprayers, hand washing kits, hand gels, boots for the Ebola coordination at Nzérékoré.
A situation of reluctance against Red Cross disinfecting households of confirmed cases and the health post of Makpozou in Koropara sub prefecture was successfully managed by UNICEF implementing partners with the support of local authorities. Several rumours are ongoing but a network of rural /community radios are broadcasting specific messages to foster understanding.
Situation Overview
In early March, three people with EVD symptoms from the same family died consecutively in Koropara, which is a sub-prefecture located 91 km from Nzérékoré with 19,035 inhabitants. A 38 year old woman, her husband and his second wife were all buried without safe burial procedures by their own communities. This situation drew the attention of local health authorities and Red Cross who immediately started investigations. Subsequently, two other people with symptoms tested positive at the Ebola Treatment Center of Nzérékoré on 17th March.
Since March 17, day 79 of the 90-day active surveillance period, Guinea has registered nine cases of EVD, among which six have been confirmed, including an 8 year-old girl. Five of the confirmed cases are from Koropara, and the other case is from the urban commune of Nzérékoré.
The situation of panic caused by the announcement of confirmed cases made a member of the same family flee to Macenta with his wife and sister, where he subsequently died on 21 March. He was found and tested EVD positive as well.
1,342 contacts have been vaccinated, among which 242 are at high risk of developing symptoms.
Contact registration, monitoring and sensitization are ongoing, while an operational base has been established to host humanitarian workers involved in the micro-containment of the four worst affected villages of Koroh, Makpozou, Koropara center and Kpedia. A draft of UNICEF response plan is being finalized for the whole region of Nzérékoré based on the risk analysis and the movement of populations.
The geographic location of Koropara is a source of concern as very close to the neighbouring prefectures Beyla and Macenta (see map below).
UNICEF emergency needs to respond to the current outbreak is estimated at USD 3,651,789 until August 2016.