WHO official: Congo’s Ebola outbreak will last 6 more months

The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo will likely continue for another six months, a World Health Organization official told CIDRAP News.

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Numerous factors have complicated health officials’ Ebola containment efforts, including violence from militia groups, political instability and community resistance in the outbreak area.

“This is the most complicated setting we’ve ever experienced in order to stop an Ebola outbreak,” Peter Salama, MD, WHO’s deputy director-general for emergency preparedness and response, told CIDRAP News. “At a minimum, it will take six further months to stop.”

The WHO has deployed 450 personnel to address Congo’s outbreak, which started in August. As of Jan. 17, health officials reported 668 confirmed and probable Ebola cases, along with 410 deaths. An additional 136 cases are still under investigation.

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