The following report highlights major news developments relating to health in Cote d’Ivoire as of 17 August. The report focuses on Avian flu and Ebola hemorrhagic fever. The report includes background information to add context to the news.
Health Authorities Report Avian Flu in Southeastern Town
Ivorian health authorities reported avian flu in the department of Grand-Bassam, located at 43 kilometers southeast of Abidjan. According to a 15 August decree signed by the prefect of the Department of Grand-Bassam, the infection of a highly pathogenic avian influenza type H5N1, a strain of bird flu, was declared in the locality of Mondoukou, Grand-Bassam. The local authorities ordered the slaughter of all poultry present, the destruction of poultry corpses and farm products, the prohibition of poultry movements, the closure of markets and gathering places, and the cessation of activities related to the processing, transport, distribution and marketing of poultry, products and by-products.
Background: The poultry sector in Cote d’Ivoire has been affected since 2006, 2015 and 2017 by the resurgence and persistence of the avian flu virus. To date, 42 outbreaks have been identified and notified to the World Organization for Animal Health, with more than 122,700 poultry slaughtered.
Health Authorities Launch Ebola Vaccination Program in Abidjan
Media reported that health officials administered the first doses of Ebola vaccine on 16 August in the emergency room of the Cocody University Hospital. The operation targets a group of health personnel since the case was detected in that department before her transfer to the Treichville University Hospital for treatment. Teams in overalls came to disinfect the service. The head of the infectious diseases department at Treichville University Hospital said that his team vaccinated about 200 people and hoped to vaccinate all the 2,000 people considered to be at risk by 18 August.
Background: The Ivorian authorities received 5,000 doses of Ebola vaccine on 15 August from Conakry, Guinea. The doses will allow the vaccination of the target group that had direct or indirect contact with the young patient under treatment.