Congo Declares End of 16th Ebola Outbreak After 45 Days Without New Cases

The Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday officially declared an end to its 16th Ebola outbreak after going 45 consecutive days without recording a new infection.

Health Minister Roger Kamba announced the development in Kinshasa, noting that the outbreak, which began in September in Bulape, Kasai Province, resulted in 53 confirmed cases, 11 probable cases and 43 deaths.

“With 45 days of zero new confirmed cases, we can say the outbreak has shown an overall positive trend,” Kamba said.

He highlighted that more than 27,000 people were vaccinated during the response, including 4,000 frontline workers, adding that the vaccination campaign played a significant role in curbing the spread of the virus. Despite this progress, he cautioned that the country continues to battle other public health challenges such as cholera and mpox.

The outbreak in Kasai was the province’s seventh and its first in 18 years. It spread to at least four surrounding communities before being brought under control. The World Health Organization initially struggled to deliver vaccines due to limited access and funding constraints.

The health emergency unfolded as Congo faced heightened insecurity in the east, where the M23 rebel group has captured key cities following a renewed offensive in January.

Congo has experienced several Ebola outbreaks, including a major one between 2018 and 2020 in the eastern region that claimed more than 1,000 lives.