All articles tagged with #contact tracing
Ebola is spreading in eastern Congo as case detection and contact tracing lag behind, leaving overworked health workers stretched thin amid security and access hurdles while response measures continue.
A confirmed tuberculosis case at Summerville High School in Dorchester County has led to contact tracing and notifications to potentially exposed families about testing options. TB spreads mainly through close contact, not casual encounters; only a minority exposed may develop disease in the first year or two. Families are advised to monitor for symptoms (prolonged cough, fever, night sweats) and consult a clinician, while practicing basic preventive measures like staying home when sick and maintaining good hygiene.
The eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo's Ebola outbreak, linked to the Bundibugyo virus, has killed more than 1,500 people with 3,442 cases, making it the fastest-growing on record and centered largely in Ituri. About 797 patients are in isolation and 615 have recovered, but contact tracing remains well below the 95% target amid displacement and security challenges. Uganda has declared itself Ebola-free, while the WHO says the global risk is low even as local risk remains very high and aid operations have been disrupted by violence against health facilities.
Delaware’s Division of Public Health has confirmed a second measles case in Kent County, both cases involving unvaccinated adult men, as health officials conduct extensive contact tracing and urge residents to ensure they are up to date with the MMR vaccine. More than 60 people received MMR vaccinations at state clinics and mobile units, and officials remind the public to verify vaccination records via DelVAX. People with measles symptoms should seek care promptly and health authorities will advise on potential exposures and precautions; two-dose MMR is about 97% effective at preventing measles in most people.
Delaware has confirmed its first measles case in more than ten years: an unvaccinated adult male in Kent County, linked to an outbreak in neighboring Pennsylvania. Health officials launched extensive contact tracing, warned the community is at high risk, and provided guidance on symptoms, transmission, and post-exposure vaccination or antibody options.
Delaware’s Division of Public Health confirmed the state’s first measles case in more than ten years, an unvaccinated man in Kent County, with the result reported on Monday. Public health staff are conducting contact tracing and notifying anyone potentially exposed, and residents are urged to verify their vaccination status via DelVAX. The measles vaccine (MMR) is about 97% effective after two doses; seek medical care if symptoms appear. A February exposure in Wilmington was reported previously but was not a case.
Delaware's Division of Public Health confirms the state's first measles case in more than ten years, tied to an unvaccinated Kent County man. Officials are conducting extensive contact tracing and urge residents to verify their vaccination status via the DelVAX portal or with their providers; two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective, and vaccination is available at pharmacies, clinics, and public health sites. Those with symptoms should seek care promptly and notify facilities of potential exposure.
A second American infected with Ebola in the Congo has been moved to Frankfurt University Hospital in Germany, where he is stable and receiving care in a dedicated isolation unit; Samaritan’s Purse says he did not work in direct patient care, and U.S. and Congolese officials are conducting contact tracing to determine further action, while the first American infected was evacuated to Berlin for treatment.
Nearly 300 Ebola-positive people are unaccounted for in the Democratic Republic of the Congo amid conflict and displaced camps, hampering contact tracing as the outbreak expands; WHO modeling suggests thousands of cases in coming months and vaccines/treatment trials are set to begin, though funding remains short.
Eastern Congo's Ebola outbreak has reached 1,003 confirmed cases and 254 deaths, with contact tracing at only about 55% coverage and thousands of potential contacts still unknown; the Bundibugyo virus has no vaccine or treatment, and authorities warn the true scale could be higher amid ongoing violence that hinders access and mass displacement, as the response works to identify patient zero and curb further spread.
DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak could become the deadliest on record, with 837 confirmed cases and 196 deaths; Africa CDC warns it could exceed the West Africa epidemic if not halted soon, as tens of thousands remain untraced and treatment centers are scarce amid community resistance. There is no approved treatment or vaccine yet, and vaccine development could take up to nine months, while funding shortfalls and cross-border cases (including Uganda’s 19) complicate containment.
The third-largest Ebola outbreak is sweeping the Democratic Republic of Congo with over 1,000 cases and 233 deaths; experts warn the true scope may be far larger due to undetected infections and 'unrecognized chains of transmission,' stressing that rapid, comprehensive contact tracing and sustained funding are needed as the outbreak spills into Uganda and poses a risk of reaching Nigeria.
DR Congo reports about 380 confirmed Ebola cases and 60 deaths, with 15 further cases and one death in Uganda. The apparent drop reflects better laboratory confirmation rather than an actual fall in danger, and key goals like tracing 90% of contacts remain unmet (around 45%). Ongoing conflict, community mistrust and burial practices hinder response, and there is no proven vaccine or treatment for this Bundibugyo outbreak.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo may have begun as early as January, according to WHO chief Tedros, and the response is being hindered by blanket travel restrictions, community mistrust, and low contact-tracing coverage (about 45%). There are 344 confirmed cases and 60 deaths in DRC, plus 15 cases and 1 death in Uganda. The first identified case was a nurse on April 24. There is no vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain yet, but some patients have survived with timely care; authorities are expanding labs and urging lifting travel bans to accelerate the response, aiming to raise contact tracing above 90%.
The International Rescue Committee warns the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is likely far worse than official figures, with delayed detection and only about 20% of contacts currently being traced. There are over 1,000 suspected cases and 200+ suspected deaths, with 282 confirmed cases and 42 deaths; the virus may have been spreading undetected for months and could be crossing borders to Uganda, Burundi, or South Sudan. Diagnostics shortages and testing backlogs slow confirmation, while people avoid health facilities, risking further spread. The IRC urges urgent funding to boost tracing, testing, treatment, and community engagement. There is no approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo Ebola strain yet, though CEPI is fast-tracking three vaccine candidates from IAVI, Moderna, and Oxford.