JICA Dispatches JDR Infectious Diseases Response Team to the DRC

Japan International Cooperation Agency

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On June 20, the government of the DRC declared a yellow fever outbreak. As of June 24, a total of 1,798 suspected cases of yellow fever, including 85 deaths, had been reported. In response to this outbreak, on July 10, JICA dispatched a team to assess the situation for consideration of possible assistance. The World Health Organization, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Médecins Sans Frontières and other organizations have started providing assistance in the DRC.

Based on the results of the above-mentioned assessment team and at the request of the government of the DRC, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida decided on the dispatch of the JDR Infectious Diseases Response Team on July 19. JICA dispatched the team to the DRC the following day. This is the first dispatch of the team since its establishment in October 2015.

Its period of dispatch will continue until early August. The team consists of experts in infectious diseases, and their main activities are 1) providing advice to senior officials of the Ministry of Health, 2) providing technical assistance for laboratories and 3) providing assistance for the preparation of a vaccination campaign.