Yesterday the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that last patient being treated for Ebola virus disease in an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was released from the hospital.
"The recovery kicks off a 42-day countdown to declaring the outbreak over if no further cases are confirmed," the WHO said. Forty-two days is two 21-day periods, or twice the maximum incubation period of the deadly hemorrhagic virus.
The DRC has not reported any new cases since September 25. Overall, 64 cases (53 confirmed and 11 probable) have been reported since the outbreak was declared on September 4 in Bulape health zone in Kasai province. Nineteen people have recovered from the virus, and 43 people have died.
The estimated case-fatality rate for this outbreak is 67.2%, and five cases involved healthcare workers (four nurses and one laboratory technician), three of whom died.
35,000 vaccinated in 6 weeks
The Bulape health zone is a rural, hard-to-reach area with uneven roads. Still, the WHO said, the WHO, the DRC ministry of health, and multiple partners were able to erect a 32-bed Ebola treatment center within days of identifying the first case.
In addition to building the treatment center, healthcare workers immediately organized a vaccination campaign that ultimately reached 35,000 in Bulape health zone. Vaccines arrived just 10 days after the initial case was identified, and outbreak workers used a ring vaccination strategy to reach close contacts, clinicians, and others at risk of infection.
The recovery of the last patient just six weeks after the outbreak was declared is a remarkable achievement .
“The recovery of the last patient just six weeks after the outbreak was declared is a remarkable achievement that shows how strong partnership, national expertise and determination have contributed to overcoming challenges to save and protect lives,” said Mohamed Janabi, MD, PhD, the WHO regional director for Africa.
According to the WHO, the outbreak will be declared over in early December if no new cases are identified.
The DRC Ebola outbreak is the second Ebola outbreak in 2025; earlier this spring Uganda saw an Ebola outbreak that sickened 14 people, including 4 fatally.
