Geneva: The World Health Organization confirmed today that the Democratic Republic of Congo was Ebola-free, as 42 days had passed since the last case in an outbreak that killed at least 49 people.
The DRC outbreak, which began in August, involved a different strain of Ebola from the one that has claimed more than 5,400 lives in west Africa.
"The Democratic Republic of Congo is now considered free of Ebola transmission," the UN health agency said in a statement.
The all-clear for the country, where 66 people were infected, came after twice the 21-day incubation period had passed with no new cases detected.
DRC had declared itself Ebola-free nearly a week ago, but WHO said the country's seventh outbreak of the deadly virus was officially over only on Thursday.
The outbreak raging in west Africa stems from the Zaire species -- the deadliest of the five known distinct species -- which caused the world's first known Ebola outbreak in 1976 in what is now known as the DRC.
Until now that outbreak was the deadliest on record, with 280 deaths.
The disease takes its name from the DRC's Ebola River.
The DRC outbreak, which began in August, involved a different strain of Ebola from the one that has claimed more than 5,400 lives in west Africa.
"The Democratic Republic of Congo is now considered free of Ebola transmission," the UN health agency said in a statement.
DRC had declared itself Ebola-free nearly a week ago, but WHO said the country's seventh outbreak of the deadly virus was officially over only on Thursday.
Advertisement
Until now that outbreak was the deadliest on record, with 280 deaths.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Indian Children Who Missed Out On Vaccines Drop To 16 lakh 2023: UN, WHO BRS Seeks Disqualification Of All 10 Defected MLAs Odisha Raj Bhavan Staffer Who Claimed Assault By Governor's Son Transferred Dubai Princess Shaikha Mahra Divorces Husband In Insta Post, Cites Reason In Massive Row Over Karnataka 100% Quota Bill, Chief Minister Deletes Post 25,000 Aspirants For Airport Jobs Paying Rs 22,000: A Mumbai Stampede Scare The History Of Railway Budget And Why It Was Demerged From Union Budget Video: Rajasthan Teachers Caught Dictating Answers During Board Exams "UP Fed Up With Game Of Thrones": Akhilesh Yadav Amid BJP Infighting Buzz Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.