In a follow-up on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), health officials now report a cumulative total of 45 EVD cases including 25 deaths (case fatality rate = 56%) from three health zones in Equateur Province.

Ebola virus/CDC
Ebola virus/CDC

12 previously identified suspected cases were laboratory confirmed for EVD including one case from Wangata health zone in Mbandaka City – an urban centre with a population of more than 1 million people.

The total includes 14 confirmed, 21 probable and 10 suspected cases in Bikoro (n=36), Iboko (n=5) and Wangata (4) health zones. Bikoro health zone remains the epidemic centre of the outbreak, reporting 80% of the total cases and 93% of the confirmed cases.

Today, the Emergency Committee convened by the WHO Director-General under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) regarding the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo took place and at this time, based on a number of factors, the Committee noted the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have not currently been met.

On 8 May 2018, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Bikoro Health Zone, Equateur Province. This is the ninth outbreak of Ebola virus disease over the last four decades in the country, with the most recent one occurring in May 2017.