Guinea, one of the three hardest hit countries by the Ebola outbreak is still struggling to contain the virus spread.  In mid-May, a new Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak was declared in Boké Prefecture, a region bordering Guinea Bissau.

In collaboration with Centre for Disease Control and Prevention - Atlanta (CDC), IOM has conducted an assessment in Boké Prefecture to assess the capacity of regional and local authorities to respond and further halt the spread of EVD. 

“Recent development of the epidemic in the Prefecture of Boké at the border with GB increases the risk of introduction of Ebola into this unaffected country‏,” said Alexandre Robert, Ebola Regional Project Officer. “The analysis of EVD epidemiological data supports a correlation between cross-border mobility and sustained EVD transmission. A comprehensive intervention at the border is an essential component in the strategy to reduce EVD transmission.”

At the request of the National Ebola Operations Coordination (NEOC), IOM and CDC sent a Cross-Border and Health assessment team on a joint exploratory mission to Boké Prefecture to identify needs and capacity of the local authorities in EVD outbreak management at Points of Entry.

Boké prefecture is host to several important economic activities in the country; including mining, agriculture, and fisheries. The assessment team found monitoring of population mobility and cross-border movements for EVD infected travellers and contact cases will be a great challenge.

From the 18th to 21st of May, the team visited two sea ports in Kamsar, Kanfarande and one land border post in Kandiafara. The team also met with local authorities from the Prefecture Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC) as well as medical officials.

The Prefecture and National Ebola response authorities have requested that IOM and CDC provide technical and material support in setting-up of health checkpoints on the roads around Kamsar. The team also recommended that other health checkpoints be set up at the main border point of entry.

“We have called for strengthening of social mobilization and enhancing capacity of Community Health Workers who are able to reach isolated communities,” said Mario Breton, team leader CDC Border Health team in Guinea

There is also need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance capacities in the prefecture by training of health personnel on infection prevention and control measures and as well as increase the ability differentiate EVD cases in health facilities by organizing a patient triage based on a set of symptoms that can suggest a possible EVD case.

IOM will support the health screening at Points of Entry as part of the Health and Humanitarian Border Management framework in partnership with CDC Border Health team. 

To this end, IOM will work with border officials, health facilities and related community health system located in border areas to strengthen their capacity to perform epidemiological surveillance, EVD case management, alert and referral systems in coordination with Points of Entry.  Activities will start in June and the first expected outcome is the strengthening of the capacities of sea border officials to perform health screening of the fishermen who are transiting between Kamsar and several islands off of the coastal areas of this city.

The NEOC and partners plan to address the identified gaps in epidemiological surveillance, community mobilization and logistic.

The Ebola epidemic in West Africa remains a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC as declared by the Director General, WHO under the International Health Regulations (2005). Since the outbreak of the disease in December 2013, and first reported in March 2014, to date a total of 3237 confirmed cases have been registered in Guinea, with 2016 deaths as a result of the disease, giving a fatality rate of 62,3%.

On June 9, 2 new confirmed EVD cases in Boké Préfecture were reported so there’s need to maintain vigilance

For further information, please contact: Michael Asima, IOM Guinea Tel: +224 623697415, Email: masima@iom.int