from JEAN KASSONGO in Kinshasa, DRC
DRC Bureau
KINSHASA, (CAJ News) – THE Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has declared the end of the latest Ebola virus disease outbreak.
This after no new cases were reported in the past 42 days, since the last patient was discharged from a treatment centre on October 19.
In total, 64 cases (53 confirmed, 11 probable) and 45 deaths were recorded in the outbreak.
“On behalf of the government— and taking into account all the scientific and operational indicators confirming that the chain of transmission of the virus has been broken—I hereby officially declare the end of the 16th Ebola outbreak in the DRC,” said Dr Samuel Roger Kamba, Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare.
A total of 112 World Health Organisation (WHO) experts and frontline responders were deployed to support the national authorities to scale up and sustain the response.
Over 150 tonnes of medical supplies and equipment were delivered to protect health workers and communities.
“Controlling and ending this Ebola outbreak in three months is a remarkable achievement,” said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
More than 47 500 people were vaccinated against Ebola during the outbreak.
– CAJ News