from JEAN KASSONGO in Kinshasa, DRC
DRC Bureau
KINSHASA, (CAJ News) – THE latest Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) shows signs of containment.
As of October 5, ten days have passed without any newly reported case, indicating potential control of transmission in the affected areas.
The most recent cases were reported from Kasai province’s Bulape and Dikolo health areas on September 26, while other previously affected health areas within Bulape have not reported new cases for more than one to three weeks.
These include Ingongo (24 days), Bulape Communautaire (17 days), Bambalaie (16 days) and Mpianga (13 days).
However, one death, a three-week-old newborn, was reported among hospitalised confirmed cases.
A total of 1 985 contacts remain under follow-up according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Over the past week, six patients have been treated and discharged from the Ebola Treatment Centre (ETC), bringing the total number of recoveries to 15 since the onset of the outbreak early September.
Six confirmed cases remain hospitalized and are receiving clinical care.
If no new cases are reported, the country will commence the 42-day countdown to declare the end of the outbreak, once the remaining patients are discharged.
Cumulatively, 64 cases (53 confirmed and 11 probable), including 43 deaths (32 confirmed, 11 probable) have been reported.
The first Ebola outbreak in DRC was in 1976.
– CAJ News