The Democratic Republic of Congo has just declared the end of its 14th Ebola epidemic, which began less than three months ago in the northwest of the country, the Africa office of the World Health Organization announced on Monday (July 4th). Health (WHO).
Read alsoThe incredible tenacity of the Ebola virus
During this epidemic, there were a total of “
four confirmed cases and one probable case, all of whom died
”, specifies the WHO in a press release.
This epidemic was declared on April 23 in Mbandaka, capital of the province of Equateur.
This was the third epidemic reported in this province since 2018. During the previous one, which lasted from June to November 2020, there were 130 confirmed cases and 55 deaths, recalls the WHO.
“
Thanks to a strong response from national authorities, this epidemic was quickly brought to an end, with limited transmission of the virus
,” said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, in the press release.
Rise in Ebola cases in Africa
A total of 2,104 people were vaccinated during the epidemic which has just ended, “
including 302 contact persons
” and “
1,307 front-line workers
”.
The vaccination was launched four days after the declaration of the epidemic, specifies WHO-Africa.
“
Essential lessons have been learned from previous outbreaks and put into practice to design and deploy an even more effective Ebola response
,” comments Matshidiso Moeti.
Africa, she adds, “
is seeing a rise in cases of Ebola and other infectious diseases that are jumping from animals to humans and affecting large urban areas
.”
" The response to this outbreak shows that by strengthening preparedness, surveillance and rapid case detection, we can stay one step ahead
," said the WHO regional director
.
Read alsoHow the Ebola virus is still sclerotic in Central Africa
First identified in 1976 in the DRC (ex-Zaire), the Ebola virus is transmitted to humans by infected animals.
Human transmission is through body fluids, with the main symptoms of fever, vomiting, bleeding, diarrhea.
The disease, recalls the WHO, “
is serious and often fatal.
Case fatality rates have ranged from 25% to 90% in previous outbreaks
.”
Nevertheless, she adds, "
with the effective treatment currently available, patients have a significantly higher chance of survival if they are treated early and given supportive care
."