Thread by @HelenBranswell

1. #Ebola thread.
#DRC has declared a new #Ebola outbreak after diagnosing the disease in a 31 yo man who died in Mbandaka in NW DRC. This is across the country from the terrible North Kivu-Ituri outbreak that raged from 2018-2020.
afro.who.int/countries/demo…

2. The man began experiencing symptoms on April 5 but only ended up in an #Ebola treatment unit on April 21. That means there were probably unsafe exposures during that time. Or as @MoetiTshidi put it: "The disease has had a two-week head start and we are now playing catch-up."

3. On the positive side: at the #Ebola treatment unit, staff recognized what they were dealing with & were protected. The man was given a safe burial.
And there are a lot of people in Mbandaka & surrounding region who have been vaccinated with the Merck Ebola vaccine. #DRC

4. This is the 3rd #Ebola outbreak in this part of #DRC in the past 4 years. In 2018, there was an outbreak at Bikoro, but some cases ended up in Mbandaka, a city of over 1M people. That outbreak saw 54 cases & 33 deaths. Vaccine was used.
(Map from @cdcgov)

5. In 2020, there was an outbreak at Mbandaka that was declared in June & over by Nov. There were 130 cases & 55 deaths & again, vaccine was used.
That outbreak seemed to be caused both by a new spillover from animals & cases linked to the 2018 event. (Screenshot source: @cdcgov)

6. Given the location, either viral source could be at play here. There is clearly a natural reservoir for #Ebola in this part of #DRC. There are also survivors who could be harboring virus still.
DRC has supplies of the Merck vaccine & will begin vaccinating soon.

7. #DRC's health minister says 74 contacts of the man who died from #Ebola have been identified and will be monitored for symptoms.