DR Congo Sit Rep – 03 March 2008 Cholera Epidemic in Katanga • Epicentre of the epidemic : Kikula Health Zone (Likasi town) • Increasing epidemic curve in five health zones. However, in Likasi and Lubumbashi, even though gathered data are not complete yet, the curve tends to decrease since mid-February. • Important malfunction in the public water supply network. • UNICEF/CERF funding to respond to the crisis. • A provincial committee to fight the cholera epidemic was created by decree from the Governor of Katanga. • Lack of coherence in the response from the various partners. Context • Since the end of September 2007, the province of Katanga is facing a cholera outbreak. On 17 December the epicentre of the epidemic moved to Likasi town (Kikula HZ), an important gateway to several urban centres. • In the course of weeks 1 to 7 this year, 5,483 cases of cholera have been declared in Katanga and 120 deaths occurred (2.18%). Since week 7, the epidemic curve is slowly decreasing in Lubumbashi and Likasi. • The fast propagation of the disease is mainly due to an important malfunction in the public water supply network. In Likasi, the network is only providing 3,000 cubic meters of water per day to the 650,000 inhabitants (the need is at 22,000 cubic meters of water per day). Due to a shortage of clean water, the population is forced to resort to watercourses thus speeding up the propagation. The sanitation situation remains concerning in Likasi town. • As of today the humanitarian emergency response has focused on Lubumbashi and Likasi. However propagation of the disease continues in five health zones (Fungurume, Kabondo-Dianda, Kapölowe, Manika and Panda) that have an increasing epidemic curve. • An important sensitisation campaign reaching more than 350,000 persons is underway to inform the populations on transmission factors and ways to prevent the disease. (10,000 brochures, 84 radio programmes and 12 TV programmes have been produced). • More than 9 MT of medicines provided by WHO have been handed over to the provincial health division (DPS) on 20 January 2008 to cover the needs for Katanga province. Response Statistics Response by cluster Epidemic Health Zones (Wk1 to Wk7 2008) Evolution Cases Deaths Health WATSAN Nutrition - Set up of 2 CTCs to - Daily water trucking for - Food for the patients cover 1,616 patients the CTCs : 1 truck treated (WFP/His (MSF-B/PUC) (Handicap Network) - Re-supply the CTCs International/Atlas with medical Logistique) Katuba, supplies - Water chlorination of Kenya, (UNICEF/ADRA) Æ 1,840 sources and set Lubumbashi 2046 32 3,000 L of ringer, up of 6 water tanks (City of 5,600 bags of (UNICEF/ADRA) Lubumbashi) serum, 11 rolls of - Disinfection of 34,362 plastic sheeting to households and of CTC/Kenya 38,320 vehicles - Rehabilitation of (UNICEF/ADRA) CTC/Kenya (WHO/UNICEF) - Set up of a CTC to - Set up of 10 water tanks - Vivres pour prise en cover 916 patients to cover 14,500 charge des patients (MSF-B/PUC Æ households and jerry traités (PAM/His MSF-F ; WHO) can distributions (ACF) Network) Kikula (Likasi 1702 24 - Set up of an - Training of 150 town) additional CTC community sensitizers (WHO/Ministry of and 40 disinfectors Health) (ACF) - Re-supply the CTCs - Daily water trucking for 1/2 with medical the CTCs : 3 trucks supplies (Handicap/Atlas (UNICEF/ADRA) Logistique) - Training of - Set up of one community chlorination station facilitators (ACF) (MSF-F) - 5 ambulances are - Re-supply with made available to chlorination supplies and cover the HZ well drilling. (WV) (Governor of Katanga) Kalemie 142 0 Kambove 18 0 - Set up of a CTC to Bukama 409 7 cover 558 patients. (MSF-B/PUC) Malemba- - Set up of a CTC. 26 1 Nkulu (MSF-B/PUC) - Set up of 4 CTCs to Kasenga 196 1 cover 1,253 patients. (MSF-B/PUC) Kisanga 69 0 Likasi 29 0 Nyemba 178 0 Fungurume 71 8 Kabondo- 62 3 Dianda Kapölowe 38 0 Manika 27 1 Panda 32 1 Source: OMS, MSF-B, ACF, UNICEF, ADRA, PAM, DPS Katanga Epidemic Evolution : Increasing Curve : Stable Curve : Decreasing Curve Early Warning Despite an increase in the number of cases treated, the progression of the epidemic has not been stopped. Due to a lack of coherence in the response the endemic thresholds are better controlled than the epidemiologic threshold. Coordination A mission with the national Minister of Health and the Representative of WHO is planned for 05 March to Lubumbashi and Likasi to improve the coherence in the response. A provincial committee to fight against the cholera epidemic was set up by a Governor’s decree. Daily meetings are held at 5PM and are chaired by the Mayor of Likasi. A daily technical meeting is also held at 9AM and is chaired by the Chief Medical Officer of Likasi HZ. For more information Head of OCHA in DRC Gloria Fernandez [email protected] +243-813-330-146 Desk officers in New York Arzu Hatakoy [email protected] +1-917-367 2192 Noel Tsekouras [email protected] +1-917-367 9367 Press Contact in DRC Christophe Illemassene [email protected] +243-819-889-195 Press Contact in Genève Elizabeth Byrs [email protected] +41-22-917-2653 Press Contact in NewYork Christina Bennett [email protected] +1-917-367-8059 This report and more information are available on : www.rdc-humanitaire.net, www.reliefweb.int 2/2 .