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WHO Urges Vigilance as Ebola Epidemic Appears to Near End in DRC

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA - The World Health Organization urges continued vigilance to
   prevent flareups of the deadly Ebola virus as the epidemic in eastern
   Democratic Republic of Congo moves closer to being officially declared
   over.

   The last Ebola patient was discharged from a treatment center in the
   northeastern town of Beni in the DRC on Tuesday. If no more cases are
   confirmed during two incubation periods or 42 days, the WHO will
   officially declare the Ebola epidemic in the country at an end on April
   12.

   But WHO Assistant Director-General - Emergency Response Ibrahima
   Soce-Fall says this is not yet a time of celebration because the
   outbreak is not over. He said everyone must remain vigilant as the risk
   of other cases emerging during that period is very high.

   He said health teams must remain active and ready to respond to a
   number of complex threats, including those posed by insecurity in
   conflict-torn North Kivu and Ituri provinces.

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