Congo Declares End to Ebola Outbreak After Successful Containment

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, declared over after 42 days without new cases, marked a significant achievement. Beginning on September 4 in Kasai Province, it resulted in 45 deaths from 64 cases. Rapid containment was achieved with a revamped surveillance system enabled by WHO and local health efforts.

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been declared officially over, according to an announcement made on Monday by Congolese health officials and the U.N.'s World Health Organization. The end of the outbreak follows a 42-day period without recording any new cases.

Originally declared on September 4, the outbreak began in the Bulape health zone of Congo's Kasai Province and was the first in the country since 2022. Out of the 64 reported cases, 45 were fatal while 19 patients recovered. The Congolese health ministry credits the timely containment to an improved national surveillance system that facilitated rapid mapping of affected areas.

Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO regional director, lauded the effort and called the containment within three months a "remarkable achievement." While no new cases have emerged since September 25, and the last patient was discharged on October 19, Congo will maintain heightened disease surveillance for the next 90 days to ensure complete containment.

(With inputs from agencies.)