Lessons from Ebola as DRC grapples with conflict, measles, and covid-19

Type Journal Article Author Paul Adepoju URL https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m2879 Rights Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions. This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ's website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.https://bmj.com/coronavirus/usage Series Feature Volume 370 Pages m2879 Publication BMJ ISSN 1756-1833 Date 21/07/2020 Extra Publisher: British Medical Journal Publishing Group Section: Feature PMID: 32694179 Journal Abbr BMJ DOI 10.1136/bmj.m2879 Library Catalog www.bmj.com Language en Abstract After two long years, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s 10th Ebola outbreak has ended—just as covid-19 extends its reach globally and with the world’s largest measles outbreak still raging. Paul Adepoju reports The world’s second largest Ebola outbreak is over. An outbreak that began on 1 August 2018 ended on 25 June 2020 as the World Health Organization announced it had been 42 days since the last confirmed case in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).The country had recorded 3470 confirmed cases, 2287 deaths, and 1171 recoveries, aided by deployment of the first proven Ebola vaccine and new drug treatments.1 Around 250 000 contacts were traced, 220 000 samples were tested, and more than 303 000 people vaccinated. Yet DRC’s health system continues to be stretched. The country is struggling to control the world’s largest measles outbreak, which started in 2019 in the south east and has shown numbers exceeding the Ebola epidemic with around 7000 deaths from over 375 000 confirmed cases.2 Children under 5 account for 74% of infections and nearly 9 in 10 deaths. And then there is covid-19. Since DRC’s first case was confirmed on 2 March, there have been over 7000 confirmed cases and at least 169 deaths. Yet the country’s struggle with Ebola has put it in a position to better manage the pandemic. “DRC is now better, smarter, and faster at responding to Ebola and this is an enduring legacy that is supporting the response to covid-19 and other outbreaks,” says Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.