MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 22 November 2014]
Democratic Republic of Congo: Intervention for the Ebola Outbreak Comes to an End
November 17, 2014
BOENDE, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO/BARCELONA—The Ebola outbreak that began in August in the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is now under control, with no new cases detected after the last confirmed infection on October 4 in the town of Boende, Equateur province, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said today.

MSF has withdrawn its teams from the affected area after deploying about 70 staff members in response to the outbreak, which is separate from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. However, MSF staff members continue to monitor the area, after working for weeks to enhance the capacity of local authorities to respond to any eventuality. According to the World Health Organization, the outbreak in DRC infected 66 people, 49 of whom died.

“At MSF, we try our best to ensure an effective and forceful response in the event of a new outbreak,” said José Mas, coordinator of MSF’s intervention. “In Congo, we have worked with local authorities to maintain an operational treatment center in Equateur. We have also made a donation of medicines and equipment for water and sanitation, and the staff is the same that has worked during this last outbreak, so they are properly trained.”

Closing an Ebola intervention includes two phases. There is a first period of 21 days after the last confirmed case, during which people who had been in contact with the patient are traced. That is followed by a second 21-day buffer period to ensure no additional cases arise. An Ebola outbreak is typically considered over after 42 days without a case…