HSE closely monitoring situation as WHO declares Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo a Public Health Emergency of International Concern
On 17th July, 2019, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This was the fourth meeting of the Emergency Committee since the outbreak was declared on 1 August 2018. In recommending a PHEIC the committee made specific recommendations related to this outbreak.
Since the start of this outbreak over a year ago, the HSE, in conjunction with the Department of Health, have been closely monitoring the situation and have taken the appropriate preparedness steps to respond to this situation.
As the WHO have stated while the risk remains very high at national and regional levels it still low at global level. Specifically for Ireland, and other European countries, the risk of importation is considered very low after a risk assessment by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). WHO does not recommend closure of country borders or place any restrictions on travel and trade. Health screening at airports or other ports of entry outside the region is not recommended by WHO.
Monitoring (voluntary) of humanitarian aid workers returning to Ireland from the affected region has been ongoing throughout this outbreak. This is undertaken within the HSE by medical staff from the Departments of Public Health around the country and involves monitoring a person’s clinical wellbeing for 21 days following their last known exposure in an affected area.
The European Commission and WHO convened a number of teleconferences to assess preparedness measures within Europe. At those meetings it was confirmed that the risk to Europe is considered very low, and no travel or trade restrictions are recommended by WHO. However, continued preparedness is essential to respond to this international emergency.
Despite the very low level of risk of importation of Ebola into Ireland, it is important the health system remains vigilant to the possibility of an imported case from an Ebola affected area. This announcement by WHO is an opportunity to ensure that adequate preparations are in place to deal with the management of such an event and any future emerging infectious threats.
Find further guidance on response and management of Ebola and Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers on the HSE-HPSC website. This guidance includes risk assessment algorithms for Acute Hospitals, Primary Care, Public Health guidance on the management of cases and contacts and PPE Training Videos.
Supplemental notes:
What is Ebola virus disease?
- Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans.
- The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.
- The disease results in high case fatality (around 50%, range 25% to 90% in past outbreaks).
- The virus first appeared in 1976 in Africa in two simultaneous outbreaks, one in what is now Nzara, South Sudan, and the other in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter occurred in a village near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name. Since then sporadic outbreaks have occurred in other central and western African countries.
- The largest outbreak ever seen occurred in Africa, between 2014 and 2016 and affected predominantly Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. During this time more than 28,000 cases and 11, 000 deaths were reported from these countries. Additional cases were reported in other countries in Africa, Europe, and the United States following importation of exposed individuals to these countries. Due to high levels of awareness and appropriate infection control onward transmission within these countries did not occur or was limited.
- Control or outbreaks requires strong community engagement in the area affected.
- Good outbreak control relies on case management, infection prevention and control practices, surveillance and contact tracing, a good laboratory service, safe and dignified burials and social mobilisation.
- Vaccines to protect against Ebola are currently being used to help control the spread of Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
- Early supportive care with rehydration, symptomatic treatment improves survival. There is no licensed treatment proven to neutralize the virus but a range of blood, immunological and drug therapies are under development.
Links
WHO Press release 17th July 2019- announcement of PHEIC. Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern
ECDC Update: Risk Assessment of DRC outbreak
WHO: Ebola Virus disease fact sheet and More about Ebola
HSE HPSC: Ebola Virus Disease
HSE HPSC: VHF Guidance