The latest Ebola virus outbreak in the eastern province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been declared over, according to a statement from Health Minister Jean-Jacques Mbungani Mbanda on Tuesday.
On August 22, a fresh case of the fatal virus was identified in the eastern city of Beni, marking the start of the fifteenth outbreak in the nation of central Africa.
Testing revealed that the case was genetically connected to the 2018–2020 outbreak that killed over 2,300 individuals in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. Six people were killed by another outbreak flare-up last year.
“After 42 days of reinforced surveillance without a new confirmed case… I am happy to solemnly declare the end of the 15th [Ebola] epidemic… that lasted one month and 12 days,” Mbungani Mbanda said.
The Ebola virus, which causes fever, pains, and diarrhea, has its natural home in the deep tropical woods of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Since 1976, there have been 14 outbreaks in the nation. With approximately 3,500 cases, the east of the Congo experienced the greatest and second-largest outbreak ever to be detected.
The northwest province of Equateur was the site of the most recent outbreak in Congo. Five people died before it was deemed over in July.