Congo Declares End to Ebola Outbreak in Southern Province
KINSHASA, Congo — After a devastating Ebola outbreak that claimed the lives of 43 individuals in Congo’s southern province, authorities have officially declared an end to the crisis. Health Minister Roger Kamba announced that no new confirmed cases had been reported in the past 45 days, marking a significant milestone in the fight against the deadly virus.
The outbreak, which first emerged in the town of Bulape in the Kasai province, resulted in a total of 53 confirmed cases. Kamba praised the efforts of more than 4,000 front-line workers who played a crucial role in containing the outbreak. Over 27,000 individuals were vaccinated as part of the response efforts.
“No new confirmed cases have been recorded for 45 consecutive days,” Kamba stated during a press briefing in the capital city of Kinshasa.
This particular Ebola outbreak in Bulape was the 16th in the country since the disease was first discovered in Congo in 1976, and the 7th in Kasai province. The World Health Organization faced logistical challenges in delivering the vaccine due to limited access and funding constraints.
Notably, an Ebola outbreak that occurred from 2018 to 2020 in eastern Congo resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 individuals, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by the virus.
The recent outbreak in Bulape added another layer of concern for Congo, which has been grappling with the activities of the M23 rebel group. The rebel group launched a swift assault in the eastern region of the country in January, capturing key cities and intensifying the security situation in the region.
Despite the challenges, the successful containment of the Ebola outbreak in the southern province represents a significant achievement for the country’s public health authorities.
— Jean-Yves Kamale
