DR Congo Discharges Last Ebola Patient as Outbreak Nears End

DR Congo Discharges Last Ebola Patient as Outbreak Nears End
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The last Ebola patient in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been discharged, marking a key step toward ending the latest outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported. The patient’s recovery begins a 42-day countdown to officially declaring the outbreak over if no new cases emerge.

Since the outbreak was declared on 4 September in Bulape health zone, Kasai Province, 64 cases have been recorded, including 53 confirmed and 11 probable, while 19 patients have recovered. No new infections have been reported since 25 September.

WHO and the Ministry of Health rapidly scaled up response measures despite challenges in the remote area, establishing a 32-bed treatment centre and vaccinating over 35,000 people.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, praised the swift containment as a “remarkable achievement.” Health teams remain on alert as the country approaches the early December target to declare the outbreak over.