The last Ebola patient in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) has been discharged, marking a major milestone in efforts to end the outbreak. This recovery begins a 42-day countdown to officially declaring the outbreak over, provided no new cases are detected.
Since the outbreak was declared on 4 September in Bulape health zone, Kasai Province, a total of 64 cases have been reported, including 53 confirmed and 11 probable cases. Nineteen patients have recovered, and no new cases have been reported since 25 September. The outbreak occurred in a rural, hard-to-reach area, posing significant challenges due to distance, poor roads, and limited infrastructure.
The Ministry of Health, with strong support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, responded rapidly to scale up containment measures. WHO deployed multidisciplinary teams to strengthen surveillance, clinical care, infection prevention and control, logistics, and community engagement. A 32-bed Ebola treatment centre, equipped with a two-bed Intensive Infectious Disease Treatment Module, was established in record time—the first such deployment outside a simulation exercise in the region. Over 35,000 people in Bulape have also been vaccinated against Ebola.
Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, highlighted the achievement, noting that the swift recovery of the last patient demonstrates the effectiveness of strong partnerships, national expertise, and determination in saving and protecting lives.
WHO and its partners remain on the ground, working closely with the government to maintain vigilance and ensure any new cases are swiftly detected and responded to. If no additional cases emerge, the outbreak is expected to be officially declared over in early December 2025.
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