Description of the situation
26 May 2004
As of 26 May 2004, the health authorities of Yambio County have reported a total of 20 cases, including 5 deaths, of Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF) in Yambio, Western Equatoria, south Sudan. Ebola virus (sub-type Sudan) has been confirmed by laboratory tests at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, United States and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya.
The team from the WHO South Sudan Early Warning and Response Network (EWARN) and from WHO headquarters are continuing to work with the Crisis Committee to control the outbreak. Médecins sans Frontières (MSF-France) is supporting the isolation ward and case management in Yambio hospital. CDC, as part of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) are providing further laboratory and infection control experts in the field. Other nongovernmental organizations and churches are also working to contain the outbreak.
National authorities in the neighbouring countries of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and in Uganda have enhanced surveillance in bordering areas (see map below). In DRC, a national team, supported by the WHO Country Office is alerting the local population, augmenting surveillance and performing active case finding. MSF teams in Province Orientale are also on the alert.
(Click image to enlarge, 480k)