Congo declares end to Ebola in parts of country

Second-largest outbreak on record ends after more than 2,200 deaths in eastern Congo

The second-largest Ebola outbreak on record is over after nearly two years and more than 2,200 deaths, the Democratic Republic of Congo's health minister said on Thursday, even as a separate flare-up of the virus continued elsewhere in the country.

Despite effective use of two different vaccines, the health response to the epidemic was hampered by community suspicion and a patchwork of rebel groups operating near the Ugandan border.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) was initially set to announce the end of the outbreak in April but another case emerged just three days before the Ebola-free declaration was expected.

That case restarted the 42-day period required before such a declaration can be made.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s director-general, said the news was a “joyous occasion” for the country and praised the work of Congolese health workers.

“The Ebola response was a victory for science. The rapid roll-out of highly effective vaccines saved lives and slowed the spread of Ebola,” Dr Tedros said.

“For the first time, the world now has a licensed Ebola vaccine.”

Officials are now working to shut down a new flare-up of cases, which was declared on 1 June in the western city of Mbandaka, more than 1,000km (620 miles) away from the recently-ended outbreak.

“The health ministry intends to capitalise on the lessons learned and the success factors from this long epidemic to assure the most effective response possible in Mbandaka,” Eteni Longondo, DRC’s health minister, told reporters.

There were 3,463 cases confirmed and probable cases recorded over the course of the outbreak in eastern Congo, including 2,277 deaths, Mr Longondo said.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s regional director for Africa, said lessons learned from the recent outbreak would leave an “enduring legacy” which would help health workers responding to new epidemics.

“It wasn’t easy and at times it seemed like a mission impossible," Dr Moeti said.

“Ending this Ebola outbreak is a sign of hope for the region and the world, that with solidarity and science and courage and commitment, even the most challenging epidemics can be controlled.

“Working together we leave an enduring legacy which is now supporting the fight against Covid-19 and other outbreaks.”

The largest Ebola outbreak on record occurred in West Africa from 2013-2016, when more than 11,300 people died from the disease in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Additional reporting by agencies