Ebola in DRC over
Just over 11 weeks after the Ministry of Public Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) confirmed an outbreak of Ebola virus in the country, the outbreak has been declared over. The outbreak was the ninth in the DRC and posed a number of challenges, such as a spread to four different locations - including an urban centre with river connections to the capital - and to neighbouring countries, and remote rainforest villages.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has congratulated the country and those involved in ending the outbreak and has urged them to extend this success to combatting other diseases. “The outbreak was contained due to the tireless efforts of local teams, the support of partners, the generosity of donors, and the effective leadership of the Ministry of Health. That kind of leadership, allied with strong collaboration between partners, saves lives,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “This effective response to Ebola should make the Government and partners confident that other major outbreaks affecting the country such as cholera and polio can also be tackled. We must continue to work together, investing in strengthened preparedness and access to healthcare for the most vulnerable.”