2014 Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo

November 21, 2014

On November 21, 2014, the WHOexternal icon reported that 42 days had passed since the last Ebola case tested negative twice and was discharged from a hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). According to WHO recommendations, an Ebola virus disease outbreak in a country can be declared over once 42 days have passed and no new cases have been detected.

Having reached the 42-day mark, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is now considered free of Ebola transmission. This outbreak was the seventh outbreak of Ebola virus disease in the DRC since Ebola virus was first identified there in 1976.

This outbreak was unrelated to the current outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. For information about the outbreak in West Africa, please see the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa webpage.

Case Counts *

* Case counts updated in conjunction with the World Health Organization updates

Total Cases

As of November 20, 2014
(Updated November 21, 2014)

Total Case Count: 66
Total Case Deaths: 49
Laboratory Confirmed Cases: 38

Previous Updates

As of November 9, 2014, there have been 66 cases of Ebola virus disease reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In total, 49 deaths have been reported. No new reported contacts are being followed. Thirty-one days have passed since the last case tested negative twice and was discharged from the hospital. Once 42 days have passed, the country can be declared free of Ebola. This outbreak is unrelated to the current outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.

For information about the outbreak in West Africa, please see the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa web page.

As of October 29, 2014, there have been 67 cases of Ebola virus disease reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In total, 49 deaths have been reported. This outbreak is unrelated to the current outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.

For information about the outbreak in West Africa, please see the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa web page.

Outbreak Update – As of October 21, 2014

As of October 21, 2014, there have been 67 cases of Ebola virus disease reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In total, 49 deaths have been reported. This outbreak is unrelated to the current outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.

For information about the outbreak in West Africa, please see the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa web page.

Outbreak Update – As of October 9, 2014

As of October 9, 2014, there have been 68 cases of Ebola virus disease reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In total, 49 deaths have been reported. This outbreak is unrelated to the current outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.

For information about the outbreak in West Africa, please see the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa web page.

Outbreak Update – As of October 5, 2014

As of October 5, 2014, there have been 70 cases of Ebola virus disease reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In total, 43 deaths have been reported. This outbreak is unrelated to the current outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.

For information about the outbreak in West Africa, please see the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa web page.

Outbreak Update – As of October 2, 2014

As of September 28, 2014, there have been 70 cases of Ebola virus disease reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In total, 42 deaths have been reported. This outbreak is unrelated to the current outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.

For information about the outbreak in West Africa, please see the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa web page.

Outbreak Update – As of September 24, 2014

As of September 24, 2014, there have been 70 cases of Ebola virus disease reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In total, 42 deaths have been reported. This outbreak is unrelated to the current outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.

For information about the outbreak in West Africa, please see the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa web page.

Outbreak Update – As of September 21, 2014

As of September 21, 2014, there have been 68 cases of Ebola virus disease reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In total, 41 deaths have been reported. This outbreak is unrelated to the current outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.

For information about the outbreak in West Africa, please see the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa web page.

Outbreak Update – As of September 9, 2014

As of September 9, 2014, there have been 31 more cases of Ebola reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), increasing the total number of cases to 62 and the total number of deaths reported to 35. All the cases have been localized in Jeera county. The affected villages are Watsi Kengo, Lokolia, Boende, and Boende Muke. A total of 386 contacts have been listed and 239 contacts have been followed-up. All cases and contacts are linked to the initial index case reported to the World Health Organization on August 24, 2014.

For information about the outbreak in West Africa, please see the 2014-2016 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa web page.

As of August 26, 2014

On August 24, 2014, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Ministry of Health notified the World Health Organization of an outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Equateur Province. The index case was a pregnant woman from Ikanamongo Village who butchered a bush animal. She became ill with symptoms of EVD, reported to a private clinic in Isaka Village, and died on August 11, 2014. Local customs and rituals associated with death meant that several healthcare workers were exposed to Ebola virus.

A total of 24 suspected cases and 13 deaths have been identified. Human-to-human transmission has been established. The index case and the 80 contacts have no history of travel to the EVD-affected countries in West Africa or history of contact with people from the affected areas. The outbreak in DRC is unrelated to the ongoing outbreak in West Africa.

For information about the outbreak in West Africa, please see the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa web page.