The World Health Organization declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on May 8, 2018. Though the full scale of the outbreak is still being investigated, there are over 40 cases of EVD reported, with 2 confirmed, in DRC to date.
To identify ways in which we might help respond to the outbreak, International Medical Corps has deployed an Emergency Response Team to Kinshasa to assess the situation and coordinate with local officials, key operational partners, local stakeholders, and others. International Medical Corps is also prepositioning emergency lifesaving kits and personal protective equipment, should they be needed, and also stands ready to deploy its Emergency Field Hospital. In collaboration with FedEx, International Medical Corps would also be able to rapidly ship equipment and supplies to DRC, once needs are determined.
International Medical Corps is coordinating with its global contacts, including medical volunteer associations and clinical staff, in the event a rapid scale-up of staff is necessary. Many of International Medical Corps’ volunteers have previous experience working in the 2014 West Africa EVD outbreak. International Medical Corps is fully committed and ready to mobilize a multi-disciplinary response—including clinical staff, lifesaving medical supplies, equipment, and temporary medical structures—should it be needed.
International Medical Corps partnered with the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during the 2014 EVD outbreak in West Africa on a wide range of activities. The organization continues to coordinate with CDC for pandemic response, including to help build robust mechanisms to respond quickly to outbreaks.
Previous Experience in Responding to Ebola
International Medical Corps has extensive experience in responding to Ebola and other infectious disease outbreaks. In 2014, International Medical Corps responded in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Guinea-Bissau. With a team of more than 1500 tireless staff, International Medical Corps treated a total of 460 Ebola-positive patients and assisted host governments in measures to prevent transmission of EVD. The organization’s five Ebola treatment units in Liberia and Sierra Leone cared for more than 2,500 patients. International Medical Corps supplemented direct medical care with the establishment of rapid response teams, Infection Prevention Control (IPC) training, and mental health and psychosocial support.
For more information on our work during the Ebola response in West Africa, please visit our Ebola response page.
International Medical Corps in DRC
A first responder to disasters and crises globally for more than 30 years, International Medical Corps has been operating in the DRC since 1999, and has become one of the leading providers of health services in the country. International Medical Corps is supporting 70 health centers and health posts in North Kivu and Tanganyika, two provinces in eastern DRC plagued by ongoing conflict for the last 20 years. In addition, International Medical Corps is also expanding its programs to help families in Itruri province.