On 17 August 2012, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of an outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Province Orientale in Eastern DRC. 

As of 20 August 2012, a total of 15 (13 probable and 2 confirmed) cases with 10 deaths had been reported. The reported cases and deaths have occurred in 3 health zones as follows: 12 cases and 8 deaths in Isiro, including three (3) health care workers who have died; 2 cases and no deaths in Pawa; and 1 fatal case in Dungu. 

Inside
• 2012 World Health Day commemoration demonstrates healthy life styles to prevent NCDs among civil servants cover page and page 1

• Midyear message from Dr Felicitas Zawaira World Health Organization Resident Representative page 2

• 2012 World Health Day commemoration demonstrates healthy life styles to prevent NCDs among civil servants...continued on page 3

• Malawi calls for a world free of TB on World STOP TB Day 2012 page 4—5

• News in pictures page 6

Libreville, 15 August 2012 --  The World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, has concluded a three-day official visit to the Republic of Gabon at the invitation of the Government. The visit took place from 13th – 15th August 2012.

The Regional Director met with the national authorities of the country, including Mr Dominique Guy Noël Nguieno, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, Francophonie, NEPAD and Regional Integration and the Hon Minister of Health, Professor Leon Nzouba.

On World Humanitarian Day, 19 August, WHO honours the thousands of people working in emergencies and humanitarian response throughout the world, such as Dr Alaa Abu-Zaid, Coordinator of the Health Cluster, Mogadishu, Somalia

For more than 20 years, Mogadishu has endured a chronic emergency situation, including the influx of thousands of internally displaced people fleeing insecurity and food shortages in southern parts of Somalia. In 2011, the country faced one of the worst famines in years.

On 17 August 2012, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic Republic of Congo, notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of an outbreak of Ebola Haemorrhagic fever in the Isiro and Dungu Health Zones of Province Orientale in Eastern DRC. A total of 10 suspected cases (9 in Isiro and 1 in Dungu) and 6 deaths (5 deaths in Isiro  and 1 in Dungu) have been reported.

17 August 2012 - The Ministry of Health of Uganda (MoH) continues to work with partners to control the outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Kibaale district. The national and district task forces also meet daily to coordinate the response to the outbreak.

In Sierra Leone, the situation with the current cholera outbreak remained critical. As of August 16, 2012, 10,905 cases with 184 deaths with a Case Fatality Rate of 1.7 was reported by the Directorate of Disease Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. While data collection and verification have improved particularly in Western Area, there is need to heighten vigilance in those districts not yet affected by cholera for early detection and prompt action.

President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Dr Ernest Bai Koroma has declared a national “humanitarian emergency” over the cholera outbreak that has resulted in 10, 734 reported cases and 181 deaths in 8 of the 13 affected districts by August 15, 2012.

Cholera situation in Sierra Leone - 16 August 2012

His Excellency  Dr. Tedros Adhanom, Minister of Health (MOH) and Patron of the 13th World Public Health Congress and Dr. Tewabech Bishaw, President of EPHA, recognized  institutions and individuals for their contribution to the success of the 13th World Congress of Public Health in an official ceremony organized by the EPHA, at the Sheraton Addis Hotel, on 11th August 2012.  The WHO   Regional Office   and WHO Country Office (WCO) / Ethiopia were among the recipients of crystal awards for their significant contributions.

Ebola was confirmed in Uganda on 28 July 2012. WHO, with the Ministry of Health and partners, has prevented the outbreak from expanding beyond Kibaale District. But more support is needed.