GENEVA, Dec 1 (KUNA) -- Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the end of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after 45 consecutive days with no new reported cases.
Speaking at a press conference in Geneva on Monday, Ghebreyesus said the outbreak which began in September recorded 64 confirmed and probable cases over a 45-day period with 45 deaths.
He noted that the health response led by health authorities in DRC in cooperation with the WHO contributed significantly to bringing the outbreak under control.
Ghebreyesus pointed out that during the first major Ebola outbreak in West Africa ten years ago the world did not have approved vaccines or treatments.
He added that Ebola today has become a preventable treatable and stoppable disease thanks to scientific progress.
He announced that a new innovative treatment unit was used for the first time during in this Ebola outbreak explaining that this Infectious Disease Treatment Module is more patient-friendly and safer and is developed by the WHO the World Food Programme and other partners.
During the press conference Ghebreyesus also warned that while (ebola) was stopped in DRC the outbreak of (Marburg) virus disease was declared in Ethiopia more than two weeks ago with 12 confirmed cases reported so far including eight deaths. Three patients have recovered while one remains under treatment. (end) imk.gb