Ebola Isolation & Holding Capability, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Challenge
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo created an urgent need for safe quarantine, isolation and short-term holding capability for suspected Ebola virus disease cases. The requirement called for specialist personnel able to operate within stringent infection prevention and control protocols, supporting safe assessment, stabilisation and onward referral in a high-risk, resource-constrained environment.
Solution
Iqarus rapidly deployed a 19-person multidisciplinary medical and operational team to provide the clinical and operational capability for a dedicated quarantine, isolation and holding facility.
The team brings together medical, nursing, infection prevention and control, operational and medical supply chain expertise. The capability provides 24/7 monitoring, supportive care and emergency stabilisation for suspected Ebola cases pending safe referral to designated Ebola Treatment Centres.
Structured infection prevention and control systems include controlled patient and staff flows, appropriate use of PPE, clinical surveillance, decontamination, waste management and safe patient movement.
Training and competency frameworks support consistent application of Infection Prevention and Control procedures, with onward referral coordinated within the wider outbreak response system.
Impact
The deployment established specialist outbreak-response capability in a complex operating environment, enabling suspected Ebola cases to be safely assessed, stabilised and held pending coordinated onward movement to designated definitive treatment facilities.
By combining clinical expertise, infection prevention and control, operational support and medical coordination within a single deployed team, Iqarus supports this critical stage of the Ebola patient pathway.
