As of last week, that’s good news according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The Ebola outbreak in Congo’s Kasai Province, which had previously been under the radar, is nearing containment. As of Sunday, health officials had confirmed 64 cases. Tragically, those deaths have included 43 deaths thus far, 11 of which are considered probable deaths. Things are coming to a kind of equilibrium. Since the WHO’s last daily update on October 1, no new confirmed or probable cases have been reported.
The UN health agency, headquartered in the Swiss city of Geneva, offered encouraging news on the outbreak last Wednesday. Their report even noted that there were ten days in a row with no new reported cases. This can be interpreted to mean that transmission in the impacted areas may be largely contained.
Congo’s health ministry officially announced a new Ebola outbreak earlier this month, and immediate responses including quick alerts and active monitoring began. Note that the total number of reported cases includes confirmed and probable cases. The probable cases are significantly increasing the death toll. The WHO continues to monitor the situation closely. They emphasize the importance of containment strategies to prevent the virus from spreading.
The outbreak struck Kasai Province, which had to contend with mounting difficulties attributable to its remoteness and lack of infrastructure. This is why local health authorities, together with international partners, are doubling down to respond more effectively and break the cycle.
“Without any newly reported cases, indicating potential control of transmission in the affected areas,” – CBC.ca
As things evolve, it’s important that health officials stay on their toes. They assert that there is still a critical need for continuous post-market surveillance. Indeed, community engagement is equally important in preventing this outbreak from worsening again. The WHO’s commitment to ensuring that Congo is supported through this crisis is shown in their regular updates and strategic advice.
