Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo 4 April – 13 May 2018
by Shane Granger
The World Health Organization has updated its Disease Outbreak News (DON) on the Ebola outbreak which has data updated to the 13th May 2018. I missed the initial DON but the most recent news is both good and bad. Good in that WHO has immediately ramped up efforts to stem this latest outbreak including deploying the Ebola vaccine but also bad because the two probable cases in the Wangata territory are on the outskirts of a large population centre (Mbandaka – population 1.2-million).
The DON breaks down the cases by Health Zones. Currently those cases listed in Bikoro and Ikoko Health Zones lie within Bikoro Territory while the Wangata Territory encompasses the city of Mbandaka and surrounds. The Case Fatality Rate for Bikoro Territory is 51.3%. All the cases so far have occurred in Equateur Province. Infographic below:
The data for this infographic was supplied by the World Health Organization via Disease Outbreak News 14 May 2018 – Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo. Excerpt:
Since the publication of the first Disease Outbreak News on the Ebola outbreak in Equateur province, Democratic Republic of the Congo on 10 May 2018, an additional seven suspected cases have been notified by the country’s Ministry of Health. Importantly, since the last update, cases have been reviewed and reclassified, and some discarded.
From 4 April through 13 May 2018, a total of 39 Ebola virus disease cases have been reported, including 19 deaths (case fatality rate = 49%) and three health care workers. Cases were reported from the Bikoro health zone (n=29; two confirmed, 20 probable and 7 suspected cases), Iboko health zone (n=8; three probable and five suspected cases) and Wangata health zone (n=2; two probable cases). To date, 393 contacts have been identified and are being followed-up. Wangata health zone is adjacent to the provincial port city of Mbandaka (population 1.2 million). Response teams on the ground are in the process of verifying information on reported cases. Case numbers will be revised as further information becomes available.
Random Analytica 
Ebola in DRC – article states “a total of 39 Ebola virus disease cases have been reported, including 19 deaths (case fatality rate = 49%) and three health care workers.
Does that mean 3 of the deaths were health care workers?
That’s what WHO are reporting via the DON
So, still don’t know if the health-care workers are just in the total number of cases or included in the subset of deaths.
We are still in the “fog of early reporting during an epidemic” phase in a country that is poor and has limited physical & digital infrastructure
“a total of 39 Ebola virus disease cases have been reported, including 19 deaths (case fatality rate = 49%) and three health care workers.”
Three health care workers are included in the 19 deaths, OR in the 39 cases reported?