Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, alongside the United Nations' World Health Organization (WHO), have formally declared the end of the latest Ebola virus outbreak. The announcement came on Monday after the country successfully completed a critical 42-day period without detecting a single new infection.
A Swift and Decisive Response
The outbreak was first declared on September 4 after the deadly disease was identified within the Bulape health zone, located in Congo's Kasai Province. This marked the nation's first encounter with the virus since 2022. According to official data released by the Congolese health ministry, the outbreak resulted in a total of 64 confirmed cases. Tragically, 45 individuals lost their lives, while 19 patients managed to recover.
A key factor in containing the outbreak was the immediate deployment of a revamped national surveillance system. This enhanced system allowed health authorities to rapidly map the affected geographical area and implement targeted measures to break the chain of transmission effectively.
Remarkable Achievement in Disease Control
In an official statement, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, the WHO Regional Director, hailed the efforts. "Controlling and ending this Ebola outbreak in three months is a remarkable achievement," he stated. The last confirmed case was reported on September 25, and the final Ebola patient receiving treatment was discharged from care on October 19.
As per international health protocols, an Ebola outbreak is declared over only after two maximum incubation periods of 21 days each pass without any new cases being recorded. Congo has now met this stringent criterion.
Vigilance Continues in a Recurrent Battle
Despite the official end of this outbreak, vigilance remains paramount. The country will now enter a 90-day period of enhanced disease surveillance to monitor for any potential resurgence swiftly. This outbreak was the 16th that the Central African nation has faced since the Ebola virus was first identified there in 1976.
The virus, which is endemic to Congo's vast tropical forests, is a rare but often fatal illness in humans. Transmission occurs through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person. Symptoms typically include fever, severe body aches, and diarrhoea.
