Typhoid fever - Democratic Republic of the Congo

Supply-chain Risk Briefing

1. Summary

WHO reported typhoid fever outbreak cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo on March 12, 2024. Currently classified as low risk, with specific outbreak scale and regions not yet specified.

2. Supply-chain impact

• Agriculture sector: Typhoid fever is a disease related to water contamination, increasing the need for strengthened hygiene management in agricultural water and food production processes
• Mining activities: Possibility of increased requirements for worker health management and sanitation facility inspections at mining sites, a major industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo
• Logistics transportation: Possibility of temporary restrictions or introduction of additional quarantine procedures for domestic inland transportation and port operations
• Medical supplies: Expected pressure on local supply chains for relevant product categories due to increased demand for antibiotics, vaccines, and other related medical supplies

3. Watch points

• Need to confirm specific data including outbreak scale, affected regions, and mortality rates through subsequent WHO reports
• Required monitoring of the intensity of quarantine measures by the Democratic Republic of Congo government and scope of economic activity restrictions