SUMMARY
- A total of 99 new confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) were reported in the week to 22 February. Guinea reported 35 new confirmed cases. Cases continue to arise from unknown chains of transmission. Transmission remains widespread in Sierra Leone, with 63 new confirmed cases. A spike of 20 new confirmed cases in Bombali is linked to the previously reported cluster of cases in the Aberdeen fishing community of the capital, Freetown. There were 14 new confirmed cases in Freetown over the same period, with cases still arising from unknown chains of transmission in Freetown and elsewhere. Transmission continues at very low levels in Liberia, with 1 new confirmed case reported in the 7 days to 22 February: a registered contact associated with a known chain of transmission in the capital, Monrovia.
- Engaging effectively with communities remains a challenge in several geographical areas. Nearly one-third of prefectures in Guinea reported at least one security incident in the week to 22 February, often as a result of rumours and misinformation linking response efforts with the spread of EVD. A total of 16 new confirmed cases were identified in Guinea and Sierra Leone after post-mortem testing of individuals who died in the community, indicating that a significant number of individuals are still either unable or reluctant to seek treatment. Ideally these individuals would have been identified as contacts associated with known chains of transmission, and have been rapidly diagnosed, isolated, and treated after the initial onset of symptoms. In Guinea and Sierra Leone, 19 and 15 unsafe burials were reported, respectively.
- Most new cases in Guinea were reported from 3 neighbouring western prefectures: Conakry (6 new confirmed cases), Coyah (8 new confirmed cases), and Forecariah (16 confirmed cases). However, the eastern prefecture of Lola, on the border with Côte d’Ivoire, reported 1 new confirmed case. Case incidence has fluctuated in this prefecture. The northern prefecture of Mali, which borders Senegal, also reported 1 new confirmed case.
- The steep decline in case incidence nationally in Sierra Leone from December until the end of January has halted. Transmission remains widespread, with 8 districts reporting new confirmed cases. A significant proportion of cases are still arising from unknown chains of transmission.
- Of laboratories that report results to the relevant ministry of health, between 84% and 98% of laboratory samples were tested within 1 day of collection in the 22 days to 22 February. At present there are no data on how rapidly results are communicated to patients.
- In the week to 22 February, 3 new health worker infections were reported (2 from Guinea, 1 from Sierra Leone), bringing the total of health worker infections reported since the start of the outbreak to 837, with 490 deaths.
COUNTRIES WITH WIDESPREAD AND INTENSE TRANSMISSION
- There have been over 23 500 reported confirmed, probable, and suspected cases cases of EVD in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone (table 1), with over 9500 reported deaths (outcomes for many cases are unknown). A total of 35 new confirmed cases were reported in Guinea, 1 in Liberia, and 63 in Sierra Leone in the 7 days to 22 February.
- A stratified analysis of cumulative confirmed and probable cases indicates that the number of cases in males and females is similar (table 2). Compared with children (people aged 14 years and under), people aged 15 to 44 are approximately three times more likely to be affected. People aged 45 and over are approximately four times more likely to be affected than are children.
- A total of 837 confirmed health worker infections have been reported in the 3 intense-transmission countries; there have been 490 reported deaths (table 3).
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