By RFIPubliée the 31-07-2019Modified the 31-07-2019 at 08:08

A second case of Ebola was detected in Goma, a large city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on the border with Rwanda. The capital of North Kivu, which has 2 million inhabitants, was known 16 days ago the first proven case of the disease that has already made in this province and in Ituri 1790 deaths. For its part, Unicef ​​is concerned about the number of children affected by this epidemic. Of the almost 2700 patients listed to date, more than 25% are minors.

This new case of Ebola in Goma, was identified as a man who was followed by the caretakers of Bunia but fled the teams of the response.

The professor of virology and director of the National Institute of Biomedical Research, Jean-Jacques Muyembe, made the trip to Goma. He is now coordinating the national response to Ebola. Professor Muyembe says that everything is being done to treat this new case of Ebola. " Every precaution is taken to have this case hospitalized right here in Goma, and the therapeutic molecules will be sent from Béni, with a medical specialist, to take care of this patient. And already, response teams are on the ground to, first, disinfect the victim's home and also the health center through which it passed. In addition, the list of high-risk contacts has already been listed and the contact list of contacts will also be started. And tomorrow, these contacts will be vaccinated with the vaccine that is already here on site .

Ebola: Dr. Muyembe calls on people to collaborate

31-07-2019 - By RFI

There is no reason to panic, says Professor Muyembe who calls on the population to collaborate with the teams of the response. " We can only defeat Ebola if the population wants it! "Insists the doctor.

Children in the front line of these pathologies

2700 patients is more than during the epidemic that hit West Africa in 2014, according to the United Nations Children's Agency which warns about contagion in health centers frequented by other patients than those of Ebola. Ebola and other epidemics are linked, says Jerome Pfaffmann. For this UNICEF health specialist , if the Ebola outbreak is to be curbed, do not forget the other health emergencies in eastern DRC.

Measles alone, for example, kills as much as Ebola and cholera combined, explains the expert, interviewed by our Geneva correspondent, Jérémie Lanche . " We're coming to a stage now, where we can not just focus on Ebola. It must also be possible to take into account all the needs of children, whether it is malaria, whether diarrhea, whether pneumonia or malnutrition, which are major issues in this region.

There is no competition between Ebola and other pathologies. There is no competition either between pneumonia and diarrhea. It's just that now we are in a situation where we have families, children, who need care and it is our duty to provide a comprehensive response to those needs . "

"1 August will mark the first anniversary of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo." This is a wake-up call. "A second anniversary must not be allowed," - stresses Jerome Pfaffmann, @UNICEF health specialist, at @UNGeneva press briefing today. pic.twitter.com/DsqRg8e8sP

UN Geneva (@UNGeneva) July 30, 2019

All these issues are closely related. Because Ebola symptoms may resemble those of malaria, affected children can be admitted to health centers without any precautions. Others contract the virus. Another explanation. When they are sick, the youngest are often cared for by their community. Multiplying the risk of contagion.

Almost one year to the day after the start of the Ebola outbreak, Unicef ​​is asking for help to raise funds and vaccinate as many children as possible against all the threats they face in eastern Chad. the DRC.

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