WHO African Region✓

The #DRC has reported over 10,000 cases of Bundibugyo virus disease, with nearly 5,000 deaths. Progress is being made: more than 2,600 people have recovered, testing and treatment capacity has expanded, and clinical trials of candidate vaccines and treatments are under way. @WHO and partners continue to support the government-led response to curb transmission. Sustained efforts are essential to end the outbreak. This requires continued scale-up of key control measures, greater access to affected areas, and community outreach that builds trust and encourages people to engage with the response. Read more:

Risk communication and community engagement teams are stepping up efforts to build public trust in public health measures. In #Niania, in the DRC’s Ituri Province, WHO is supporting community dialogues to promote timely access to health care and acceptance of other Ebola response measures.

Better data. Better decisions. Better health. From 10–12 November, countries and partners will gather in Nairobi to identify priorities and advance solutions for stronger health information systems. #AfricaHealthDataForum

RT @WHOKenya: Healthcare for all means leaving no one behind. Gender, disability, income, or where you live should never determine your access to quality healthcare. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with @WHO, is undertaking a Gender, Equity and Rights Integration Analysis and Barriers Assessment to identify and address barriers to equitable Primary Health Care in Kenya. The assessment will inform practical solutions to make healthcare more inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the needs of women, girls, persons with disabilities, pastoralist communities, and other underserved populations. The assessment is taking place in 📍Kakamega, Nairobi and Turkana. Equity is not an add-on to healthcare. It is essential to health for all. #PrimaryHealthCare #HealthForAll #GenderEquity

WHO is working closely with the DRC Government to intensify and sustain the #Ebola response. During his recent visit to Beni, @ProfJanabi engaged with communities and handed over supplies and equipment, including motorbikes and #IPC materials, to strengthen the response.

RT @ProfJanabi: Over 10,000 cases of Bundibugyo virus disease have now been reported in the DRC, a sobering indication of the toll this outbreak has taken on families and communities. Yet there are reasons for hope. More than 2,600 people have recovered. New vaccine and treatment candidates for Bundibugyo virus are advancing through clinical trials, while laboratory testing, treatment capacity, infection prevention and control, community engagement, and surveillance continue to strengthen. Our teams are on the ground, working side by side with the government and partners to stop transmission and save lives. With sustained commitment, community trust and solidarity, and safe access to affected communities, this outbreak can be brought to an end.

Since the start of the #Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the DRC, more than 2,700 people have recovered. But leaving an #Ebola treatment centre does not always mark the end of the care journey. To support survivors, follow-up clinics are being established as part of the response. The first two, in Bunia and Beni, are already operational.

RT @WHOKenya: 💙 Today, 20 contacts of Kenya’s first #Ebola case were reunited with their families after completing the mandatory 21-day monitoring period. “People who complete quarantine have helped protect their families, their communities and the whole country,” said @DrNeemaKimambo. 🔗

RT @ProfJanabi: The medical evacuation of a patient with Bundibugyo virus disease and her close contact from Nigeria to Switzerland has been completed successfully. I commend the national authorities and the health workers whose close collaboration enabled safe transfer. @WHO continues to support Nigeria in strengthening all aspects of the #Ebola response, as the country continues to monitor contacts following the detection of the now-evacuated case. ----------------- L’évacuation médicale vers la Suisse d’une patiente atteinte de la maladie à virus Bundibugyo et de son contact proche, tous deux en provenance du Nigéria, a été effectuée avec succès. Je salue les autorités nationales et les professionnels de santé dont l’étroite collaboration a permis d’assurer ce transfert en toute sécurité. @WHO continue d’accompagner le Nigéria dans le renforcement de tous les aspects de la réponse à l’épidémie d’#Ebola, alors que le pays poursuit le suivi des contacts identifiés à la suite de la détection du cas désormais évacué. ----------- A evacuação médica de uma paciente com doença pelo vírus Bundibugyo e do seu contacto próximo da Nigéria para a Suíça foi concluída com sucesso. Felicito as autoridades nacionais e os profissionais de saúde cuja estreita colaboração tornou possível uma transferência segura. A OMS continua a apoiar a Nigéria no reforço de todas as vertentes da resposta ao #Ebola, enquanto o país mantém a monitorização de contactos na sequência da deteção do caso agora evacuado.

The Swiss authorities have confirmed that the patient and her spouse arrived safely in Switzerland today. She is receiving care at Geneva University Hospitals @hug_ge, while her spouse is in isolation at University Hospital Zurich @Unispital_USZ. In our telephone conversation, Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider conveyed Switzerland’s appreciation for the care provided by Nigerian health professionals and the close cooperation between our authorities and @WHO that made the evacuation possible. I thank the clinical and public-health teams in Nigeria and Switzerland, @NCDCgov, @BAG_OFSP_UFSP, @EDI_DFI and @WHONigeria for their cooperation, and wish the patient continued recovery. Here in Nigeria, contact monitoring, investigation of alerts and other containment measures continue, with support from @AfricaCDC and @WHOAFRO. We will provide regular updates through @NCDCgov and @Fmohnigeria. @OfficialFCTA @DrPavelUrsu @ProfJanabi @CDCgov @Dr_JeanKaseya @christian_happi @alikothe3rd @SalakoIziaq

RT @ProfJanabi: Honoured to receive the Distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Public Health (DFAPH) award, the highest tier of the Academy’s Fellowship Roll, alongside an exceptional group of public health leaders whose contributions have advanced health and well-being across Africa and beyond. This honour belongs not only to those recognised, but also to the health workers, researchers, policymakers and communities whose dedication drives progress every day. I congratulate my fellow awardees and look forward to joining them for the formal induction ceremony in Abuja this December. Together, for #HealthForAll. -------------- Honoré de recevoir le titre de Distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Public Health (DFAPH), la distinction la plus élevée de l’Académie, aux côtés d’un groupe exceptionnel de leaders de la santé publique dont les contributions ont fait progresser la santé et le bien-être en Afrique et au-delà. Cette distinction honore non seulement les personnes récompensées, mais aussi les professionnels de santé, les chercheurs, les décideurs et les communautés dont l’engagement contribue chaque jour aux progrès de la santé publique. Je félicite les autres lauréats et me réjouis de les retrouver à Abuja en décembre prochain pour la cérémonie officielle de remise de cette distinction. Ensemble pour la #SantéPourTous. #HealthForAll -------------- Sinto-me honrado por receber a distinção de Distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Public Health (DFAPH), o mais elevado nível da Academia, juntamente com um grupo excecional de líderes da saúde pública cujas contribuições têm promovido a saúde e o bem-estar em África e além-fronteiras. Esta distinção pertence não apenas aos homenageados, mas também aos profissionais de saúde, investigadores, decisores políticos e comunidades cujo empenho impulsiona o progresso todos os dias. Felicito os meus colegas distinguidos e aguardo com expectativa a oportunidade de me juntar a eles na cerimónia oficial de admissão, que terá lugar em Abuja, em dezembro. Juntos, por uma #SaúdeParaTodos.

RT @ProfJanabi: Today, 20 contacts associated with Kenya’s first imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease were released from quarantine and reunited with their families after completing the mandatory 21-day monitoring period. All 20 remained asymptomatic during quarantine.

Congratulations to #Kenya 🇰🇪, which today released from quarantine 20 contacts associated with Kenya’s first imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease. They have been reunited with their families after completing the mandatory 21-day monitoring period.

RT @WHONigeria: 🦠 #QandA on Ebola Can Ebola be transmitted through saliva and sweat after recovery? Hear from Dr Patrick Otim, Program Area Manager in Emergency Response at @WHOAfrica, as he explains what the evidence says about Ebola transmission after recovery and why understanding the facts matters. #Ebola #HealthForAll #WHOAfrica #OutbreakResponse #PublicHealth

“I ask all parents not to believe mis- and disinformation. As soon as a child is sick, you must go quickly to a health centre to receive appropriate care,” says Jeanne, who lost her six-year-old child to #Ebola. Mis- and disinformation fuelled Jeanne’s fears as she tried to do what was best for her child. Deeply affected by her loss, she is receiving support from a WHO psychologist and is committed to countering false information.

At a Saint Camille centre in Benin, Julien received the dignified care and support he needed to recover. Today, he welcomes and supports others living with mental health conditions, drawing on his own experience to help them on their journey to recovery.

RT @ProfJanabi: Earlier this morning, the Ebola patient in Nigeria and her contact, who is also her husband, were medically evacuated to Switzerland. The reasons for the evacuation are: ✅ Both the patient and her husband are Swiss citizens. ✅ The patient is clinically stable. The Nigerian medical team successfully managed her through the acute phase of the illness and stabilized her condition. On behalf of WHO and all partners, I warmly congratulate the Government of Nigeria, health workers, clinicians, emergency responders and all those involved in the response. This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to what Africa can accomplish when we work together. With the evacuation of the patient and her husband, Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases. However, vigilance remains critical. Nigeria will continue the close follow-up of 52 contacts, while Switzerland will assume responsibility for the continued management of the patient and the follow-up of contact number 53, her husband. Congratulations once again to everyone involved. This is a proud moment demonstrating African expertise, resilience, and leadership in public health. ---------------------------- Ce matin, la patiente atteinte d’Ebola au Nigéria et son contact, qui est également son époux, ont été évacués médicalement vers la Suisse. Les raisons de cette évacuation sont les suivantes : ✅ La patiente et son mari sont tous deux citoyens suisses. ✅ La patiente est cliniquement stable. L’équipe médicale nigériane a réussi à la prendre en charge durant la phase aiguë de la maladie et à stabiliser son état. Au nom de l’OMS et de tous les partenaires, je félicite chaleureusement le Gouvernement du Nigéria, les agents de santé, les cliniciens, les intervenants d’urgence et toutes les personnes impliquées dans la réponse. C’est une réalisation remarquable et une preuve de ce que l’Afrique peut accomplir lorsque nous travaillons ensemble. Avec l’évacuation de la patiente et de son mari, le Nigéria ne compte actuellement plus de cas d’Ebola. Cependant, la vigilance reste essentielle. Le Nigéria poursuivra le suivi rapproché de 52 contacts, tandis que la Suisse assurera la prise en charge continue de la patiente et le suivi du 53ᵉ contact, son mari. Félicitations encore à toutes celles et ceux qui ont contribué à cette réussite. Ce moment est une fierté, démontrant l’expertise, la résilience et le leadership africains en santé publique. ---------------------------- Hoje de manhã, a paciente com doença pelo vírus Ebola na Nigéria e o seu contacto, que é também o seu marido, foram evacuados por via médica para a Suíça. A evacuação deve-se aos seguintes motivos: ✅ Tanto a paciente como o seu marido são cidadãos suíços. ✅ A paciente encontra-se clinicamente estável. A equipa médica nigeriana conseguiu prestar-lhe cuidados durante a fase aguda da doença e estabilizar o seu estado de saúde. Em nome da OMS e de todos os parceiros, felicito calorosamente o Governo da Nigéria, os profissionais de saúde, os clínicos, as equipas de resposta a emergências e todas as pessoas envolvidas na resposta. Esta é uma conquista notável e uma prova do que África pode alcançar quando trabalhamos em conjunto. Com a evacuação da paciente e do seu marido, a Nigéria não tem atualmente nenhum caso de doença pelo vírus Ebola. No entanto, é fundamental manter a vigilância. A Nigéria continuará a acompanhar de perto 52 contactos, enquanto a Suíça assumirá a responsabilidade pela continuidade dos cuidados à paciente e pelo acompanhamento do contacto número 53, o seu marido. Mais uma vez, felicito todas as pessoas envolvidas. Este é um momento de orgulho que demonstra a competência, a resiliência e a liderança de África no domínio da saúde pública.

I Confirm that, with my approval, earlier this morning, the index case for Nigeria’s first imported Ebola virus disease departed Abuja for Switzerland. The index patient was clinically much improved, stable, conscious, communicating, and her clinical laboratory test results closing towards baseline. This does not mean she is not still infectious, hence the strict protocols in place. The patient was evacuated along with her spouse who has remained asymptomatic. I thank all the various clinical staff for the high quality care they provided the patient as well as the public health personnel who ensured the evacuation was carried out in line with best public health measures for such evacuations. We will provide further updates later this afternoon after the patient and her spouse lands successfully in their destination. All public health measures are continuing to ensure successful containment of the imported virus. I urge Nigerians to remain vigilant and rely on information from credible sources.

Information spreads fast during disease outbreaks, but not all of it is accurate. Misinformation can fuel fear and put lives at risk. Here’s how to check the facts and avoid falling for false health information in times of uncertainty. 👇🏿 #ViralFactsAfrica @viralfacts

In Isiro, Haut-Uele Province 🇨🇩, the capacity of the #Ebola Treatment Centre has been expanded, making it possible to provide quality care to patients. At the same time, @WHO has delivered more than one tonne of medicines, medical supplies and equipment to the General Referral Hospital, including oxygen therapy equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE), beds and mattresses, to support the continuity of essential health services.

RT @ProfJanabi: I am deeply saddened by the killing of a health worker in Bafwasende, Tshopo province, DRC. Another health worker was injured. Health is NOT a target. Those responding to the #Ebola outbreak must be protected. Misinformation and fear must never fuel violence.