The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced that four frontline health workers affected by Ebola in Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have fully recovered and received their discharge certificates.
Africa CDC made the announcement on its official X account on Sunday.
The agency said this milestone highlights the progress made by response teams and communities working to halt transmission and save lives.
“It is a powerful moment for the response teams and communities working to stop transmission and save lives,” the statement read.
Africa CDC also reaffirmed its support for the DRC and its partners in the ongoing Ebola response.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) over the Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda, following procedures outlined in the International Health Regulations (IHR).
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus told the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva that the declaration was made under Article 12 of the IHR due to growing concerns over the epidemic.
“On May 18, I declared a PHEIC for an Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda.”
This is the first time a Director-General has declared a PHEIC before convening an Emergency Committee, Ghebreyesus explained.
He added that the committee would meet to consider temporary recommendations regarding the rapidly expanding outbreak.
“It was done under Article 12 of the IHR after consulting health ministers, due to concerns over the scale and speed of the epidemic,” Ghebreyesus noted.
