Ebola: Democratic Republic of Congo says its outbreak is over

A training session for Congolese health workers to deal with Ebola virus in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo on 21 October 2014 Health workers are trained in managing Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo

A three-month Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has ended after claiming at least 49 lives, the country's health minister says.

Felix Kabange said no new cases had been registered since 4 October, though he warned against complacency.

The country's outbreak is unrelated to the one in West Africa which has claimed more than 5,000 lives.

Ebola was first detected in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Saturday's announcement came 42 days after the last new Ebola case in the country - Ebola outbreaks are usually declared over when two full cycles of the virus' 21 day incubation period finish without further infections.

A CDC EIS officer is shown working in a plastic isolator unit during the 1976 Ebola outbreak in Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo). A health worker during the 1976 outbreak works in an isolation unit

The outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which began in August, had a high fatality rate at 74%.

While the epidemic involved a separate strain of Ebola to the one devastating West Africa, Mr Kabange said that his country "remains threatened by the possible import of the Ebola virus disease" from the region.

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the worst on record. The World Health Organization says 5,160 people have been killed and more than 14,000 have been infected.

How Ebola spreads

More on This Story

Ebola outbreak

More Africa stories

RSS

Features & Analysis

  • President Bashar al AssadAnalysing Assad

    What does Syria's president really think about his country's civil war?


  • Antonia Eklund dancing with another womanHair, hips and heels

    Confessions of a British Carnival dancer in Rio


  • Dawn in SwedenLight up

    Swedish researchers look to help people through dark days


  • Visitors to Lahore festivalShow goes on

    The literary festival that breathes life into Lahore


Elsewhere on the BBC

  • Kissing Best kiss

    Are these art history's best kisses? BBC Culture takes a look

Programmes

  • A heart shaped box of chocolates and a roseThe Travel Show Watch

    Survival guide - tips for making sure a romantic break does not break the relationship

Copyright © 2015 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.