News About Congo

Have you heard about Ebola in DR Congo?

Impact of Ebola outbreak in Eastern DR Congo

















































The Democratic Republic of the Congo is grappling with the world’s second largest Ebola epidemic on record, with more than 2000 lives lost and 3000 confirmed infections since the outbreak was declared in August 2018. The outbreak is occurring in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces.

At Mavuno we have lost 2 of our partners to Ebola in Mangina and Mangango. In Mangina we lost a member of the Grassroots Organization and in Mangango we lost a member who was also the secretary of the Grassroots Organization and principal of the local elementary school. Additionally, many of our local partners have lost their family members and friends. Culturally, during mourning, communities grieve alongside the families that have lost loved ones. Out of respect, there is no farming activitiy during this this time. As a result, weeks, and in some areas, months, will go by without any farming activities as they mourn multiple deaths in the same community. This is resulting in low agricultural productivity across the region. 

Grassroots Organizations activities
It has been challenging to have people participate in the GO meetings or trainings on a regular basis. In fact, malaria is a recurring disease in the region and has some similar symptoms with Ebola (high fever, headache, vomiting, etc.). If a member of a GO or his/her family member has such symptoms, there will be Ebola suspicions and other GO members will choose to stay away from them.   
Handshaking is the common way to greet each other but for the last 12 months, to prevent the spread of Ebola, people are no longer shaking hands. Even in churches, where holding or shaking hands is a sign of peace during the Lord’s Prayer, is no longer a practice. Everybody is is keeping their hands to themselves out of caution.

What are we doing
In all of our training activities, Ebola is the first chapter. We are educating communities about preventive measures such as refraining from handshaking during the epidemic, washing hands thoroughly and frequently, avoiding bush meat, and avoiding physical contact with infected people or those showing Ebola symptoms, etc.





















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Mavuno staff interviewed about Ebola outbreak
























The impact of Ebola Outbreak in Eastern DR Congo



















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Health Alert: U.S. Embassy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (September 5, 2019)

 

Location: Congo’s Nord-Kivu, Ituri, and Sud-Kivu Provinces

 
Event: To control the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) authorities continue to establish health check points throughout the Nord-Kivu, Ituri, and Sud-Kivu Provinces, including in the cities of Goma, Beni, and Butembo and in Virunga National Park. New checkpoints may be created with little notice.
 
You may encounter health checkpoints at the land border crossing connecting Goma, DRC to Gisenyi, Rwanda at the pedestrian (Petite Barrière) and vehicular (Grande Barrière) crossing points. These checks may slow border crossings. 
 
There are at least three health checkpoints in Virunga National Park set up by the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) at the Rwindi bridge on the Goma-Butembo axis in Rutshuru territory, at the Semuliki bridge, and Kambo ferry in Beni territory.   
 
Over 3,000 cases of Ebola Virus Disease and 2,000 deaths have been confirmed in the three provinces of Nord-Kivu, Ituri, and Sud-Kivu in the DRC since the first confirmed case was reported in August, 2018. In August 2019, cases were confirmed in Mwenga, Sud-Kivu.  
 
The CDC issued a Level 2 Travel Notice for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. EVD is one of the hemorrhagic fever illnesses. It is transmitted through direct contact with infected persons or their blood, bodily fluids and secretions; through direct contact (handling or washing) with infected corpses; or through contact with objects that have been in contact with infected secretions. 
 
Actions to Take:
 
Be prepared to stop at all checkpoints, follow the instructions of authorities, and experience delays in travel. 
 
Provide for extra time to clear health checks at the Goma International Airport.
 
Follow instructions of authorities at all health checkpoints, which may include temperature testing, handwashing, and personal registration. Expect waits and exercise patience at all checkpoints.
 
Always carry a local identification or your passport with a valid DRC visa in case you are stopped at a checkpoint.
 
Take active steps – including malaria prophylaxis – to avoid malaria and other insect-borne and gastrointestinal illnesses that may mimic EVD symptoms and lead to preventable health scares.
 
Check that your international medical and evacuation insurance is current. If suspected to have Ebola, you could face quarantine and extremely expensive medical costs.
 
Visit the CDC Travelers' Health Page and the CDC Travel Notice on Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has information on this outbreak and advice on further steps to take.
 
See the State Department's travel website and Country Specific Information for the DRC. 
 
Assistance:

U.S. Embassy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: +243 81-556-0151/152
[email protected]

https://cd.usembassy.gov/