Thread by @WHO

WHO-@UNOCHA high-level event on #Ebola in 🇨🇩 is about to start.

📺 LIVE: webtv.un.org

The event provides an opportunity for the #DRC Government, @UN, donors & partners to take stock of the status of the outbreak, response & actions needed to end Ebola.

The #Ebola outbreak in #DRC is occurring in a densely populated region with internal displacement, ongoing conflict, and a weak health system. The affected communities are also facing malaria, measles, cholera and high levels of food insecurity.

Disease outbreaks in #DRC:
- #Ebola: 2489 cases, 1665 deaths since August 2018
-Cholera: 13100 cases, 279 deaths reported in from January-June 2019
-Measles: 115 000 suspected cases, 1 981 deaths since January

The #Ebola response is often disrupted by violence. Since the beginning of 2019, almost 200 attacks on health care were documented by WHO that have caused 5 deaths and 58 injuries of health care workers and patients in #DRC. #NotATarget

WHO-@UNOCHA high level event on #Ebola in #DRC is an opportunity for the international community to re-affirm its commitment to supporting the response politically and financially.

To end #Ebola outbreak in #DRC, strong international support is needed:
▶️ urgent and sustained funding for the public health response
▶️ an enabling environment with both political and community outreach
▶️ appropriate security

Investing in #Ebola preparedness paid off in #Uganda. There was no onward transmission after 3 cases from #DRC were detected in Uganda in mid-June.

Hundreds of screening points in #DRC and at international borders are slowing the spread of #Ebola. 71 million screenings have resulted in detection of 20 Ebola cases (including 3 cases in #Uganda).

A highly effective #Ebola vaccine is saving lives & slowing the spread of virus.
Vaccine was deployed just one week after the outbreak was declared. Over 160k people have been vaccinated in #DRC & over 10k have been vaccinated in neighbouring countries, including #HealthWorkers.

To help find an effective treatment for #Ebola, the first ever multi-drug trial is underway at treatment centres in #DRC. Over 1.2k patients have been provided with investigational therapeutics so far.

An innovative biosecure treatment in “cubes”, developed by @ALIMA_ORG, ease patient care and allow families to safely communicate with loved ones.

Almost 700 people survived #Ebola in #DRC. All are offered enrolment in a comprehensive programme of follow-up care and many are helping support the response in their communities.

Communities in #DRC are taking ownership of the #Ebola response. Over 2k community engagement teams are active. Ebola messages & updates aired on over 100 radio stations in outbreak hotspots. This resulted in over 90% vaccination acceptance rate & 90% success of safe burials.