Ebola outbreak in Sudan contained

Ebola
Viral Hemorrhagic Fever

Jun 18, 2004 (CIDRAP News) – The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday said that the Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreak in Yambio, Western Equatoria province, south Sudan, appears to be under control. First reported in May, the outbreak grew to 30 cases, with seven deaths. Laboratory testing is continuing, according to the WHO, and active surveillance by the South Sudan Early Warning and Response Network is ongoing.

A story from the United Nations Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), posted on allAfrica.com, says the 23% mortality rate in the current outbreak is one of the lowest ever reported for Ebola infection. Outbreaks in Equatoria in 1976 and 1979 resulted in mortality rates of 53% and 65%, respectively, according to Abdullahi Ahmed, head of the WHO's southern Sudan office. WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will analyze the current outbreak to determine what may account for its lower mortality rate, says the IRIN story.

Educational efforts are under way in the area of the outbreak, including a workshop for teachers aimed at disseminating messages about Ebola and its prevention, hospital placement of trained staff to provide information and counseling to patients and their families, and development and distribution of posters and leaflets for the public.

See also:

Jun 17 WHO disease outbreak notice
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2004_06_17/en/

Jun 11 CIDRAP News story on the outbreak
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/bt/vhf/news/jun1104ebola.html

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