Possible outbreak of haemorrhagic fever in Kasai

DRC: Possible outbreak of haemorrhagic fever in Kasai Occidental Humanitarian sources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are investigating a possible outbreak of hemorrhagic fever in the central province of Kasai Occidental. A team of representatives the DRC Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and international medical aid NGO Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) will transport medical supplies to Kananga, the capital city of the province, to support a crisis unit established there as well as to assist teams already on the ground. Blood samples from victims will be sent to laboratories in an effort to diagnose the virus. Since 17 November, 17 deaths from 30 cases have been reported in the health zone of Dekese, centred in the village of Mbisangandu, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported on Friday. Symptoms of victims have included vomiting, bleeding, fever, and dark, bloody stools. Many have complained of general weakness, with death occurring within 48 to 72 hours. MSF warned that a second region of concern is Watsa, in the northeastern Orientale Province, where one case of suspected haemorrhagic fever was identified. Viral haemorrhagic fever - Marburg virus, Ebola, yellow fever, and Rift Valley Fever - causes internal bleeding that is often fatal. It is not clear yet which virus is causing this new outbreak. People have been warned against getting close to patients, even though they may be relatives, the official RTNC TV reported in Kinshasa last week. Only health workers, wearing special protective gear, are allowed to handle patients and corpses. MSF recalled that it was involved in fighting recent outbreaks of Ebola and Marburg virus in the DRC, particularly in Kikwit and Durba in 1995 and 1999. In both emergencies, MSF focused on finding new cases as early as possible, isolating infected patients, training health staff on how to prevent further spread of the virus, and disseminating information to the populations of affected areas. For more information on management of patients with suspected viral haemorrhagic fever, visit the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00037085.htm