The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is over, it has been announced.
The announcement was made in the capital Kinshasa yesterday by World Health Organisation director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The outbreak was the first to be contained by a vaccination programme, based on medicines developed in the west African epidemic four years ago.
WHO said it was also largely managed through African countries – with many of the 360 specialists working in the DRC coming from Guinea.
WHO’s response cost four million US dollars from a new emergencies fund, established after the west African outbreak.
Dr Tedros said: “This effective response to Ebola should make the Government and partners confident that other major outbreaks affecting the country such as cholera and polio can also be tackled.
“We must continue to work together, investing in strengthened preparedness and access to healthcare for the most vulnerable.”
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