DR Congo declares end of latest Ebola outbreak
The latest Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has been declared over.
Health Minister Jean-Jacques Mbungani made the declaration after 42 days without any new infections,
Six people died out of the 11 people who were infected in this latest outbreak.
The World Health Organization’s regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, says that targeted vaccination and rapid response have made Ebola control more effective.
Only five days after the detection of the first case in Beni region, a vaccination campaign was launched and more than 1,800 were jabbed.
It was also the first time the Everbo Ebola vaccine was used in the country, the WHO said.
Stronger disease surveillance and community involvement are key in preventing future outbreak, according to experts.
The country has seen 13 Ebola outbreaks since 1976 when the disease first appeared in Yambuku, a village in the north-west.
source: bbc
