The outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo that killed 29 and sickened 24 more has ended, according to officials from the World Health Organization.
The last confirmed patient with Ebola was discharged June 12 after he or she no longer tested positive for the virus. Officials were unable to declare the outbreak over until now, waiting until 42 days, or two incubation periods, passed without any more people testing positive for Ebola.
During the outbreak, health officials used an experimental vaccine to prevent the virus from becoming an epidemic, vaccinating at least 3,330 people.
“The outbreak was contained due to the tireless efforts of local teams, the support of partners, the generosity of donors, and the effective leadership of the Ministry of Health,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO’s director-general.
Medical teams in the Congo followed up with more than 20,000 people as of June 27 to make sure they safely made it out of the 21-day incubation period without developing symptoms of the illness. The virus is spread through direct contact with people who are infected, causing body aches, bleeding, vomiting, and diarrhea. It also can be transmitted through sex and has been found in studies to remain in semen for more than two years.
The largest outbreak of Ebola occurred from 2014 to 2016, killing more than 11,300 people in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia, and also reaching the U.S.
WHO officials seized on the outcomes as evidence that other illnesses could be tackled with similar methods.
“This effective response to Ebola should make the government and partners confident that other major outbreaks affecting the country such as cholera and polio can also be tackled,” Tedros said. “We must continue to work together, investing in strengthened preparedness and access to healthcare for the most vulnerable.”
