Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo announced on Monday that the country’s latest Ebola outbreak has officially been declared over after recording no new cases for 42 consecutive days. The outbreak, which began on September 4 in the Bulape health zone of Kasai Province, was Congo’s first resurgence of the virus since 2022. In total, 64 cases were confirmed, with 45 fatalities and 19 survivors.

According to the Congolese health ministry, rapid containment was made possible by a strengthened national surveillance system that enabled authorities to immediately map affected areas and curb further transmission. The last confirmed Ebola patient was discharged on October 19, and no new infections have been recorded since September 25. The World Health Organization noted that this marks the Central African nation’s 16th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first discovered within its borders in 1976.

With the outbreak officially closed, attention now shifts to maintaining vigilance and improving preventive systems to avoid future flare-ups in vulnerable regions. How will the lessons from this latest outbreak shape Congo’s long-term strategy for epidemic preparedness? Visit www.jocomms.com for more news