Congo declares end to Ebola outbreak in eastern province
The 15th Ebola outbreak in Congo's North Kivu lasted 1 month and 12 days
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Democratic Republic of Congo has declared the end of its latest Ebola virus outbreak in the eastern province of North Kivu, Health Minister Jean-Jacques Mbungani Mbanda said in a statement on Tuesday.
The fifteenth outbreak in the central African country emerged when a new case of the deadly virus was confirmed in the eastern city of Beni on Aug. 22.
Testing showed the case was genetically linked to the 2018-2020 outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, which killed nearly 2,300 people.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}EAST CONGO WILL BEGIN EBOLA VACCINATIONS AFTER NEW CASE REPORTED
Another flare-up from that outbreak killed six people last year.
"After 42 days of reinforced surveillance without a new confirmed case... I am happy to solemnly declare the end of the 15th epidemic... that lasted one month and 12 days," Mbungani Mbanda said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A medical worker vaccinates a resident against the Ebola virus in North Kivu province, northeast of Democratic Republic of the Congo, on March 21, 2021. (Alain Uaykani/Xinhua via Getty)
Congo's dense tropical forests are a natural reservoir for the Ebola virus, which causes fever, body aches, and diarrhoea.
The country has recorded 14 outbreaks since 1976. The 2018-2020 outbreak in the east was Congo's largest and the second largest ever recorded, with nearly 3,500 total cases.
CHOLERA DEATHS IN SYRIA REACH 29
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Congo's most recent outbreak was in northwest Equateur province. It was declared over in July after five deaths.