The last Ebola patient in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was discharged Sunday, the World Health Organization said.
In a video shared on social media, jubilant health workers celebrated as the final patient exited the treatment centre.
The WHO described the event as a milestone in the fight to end the outbreak, marking significant progress for the region.
Authorities have now begun a 42-day countdown, during which no new cases must be reported to declare the outbreak over.
“The recovery of the last patient just six weeks after the outbreak was declared is a remarkable achievement,” said WHO Africa Director Mohamed Janabi.
He credited strong partnerships, national expertise, and determination for overcoming obstacles and saving lives amid challenging conditions.
Nineteen patients have recovered, with no new cases reported since September 25, according to the WHO, highlighting rapid containment efforts.
Since the outbreak began, 64 cases were reported, including 53 confirmed and 11 probable, mostly in Congo’s remote Bulape health zone.
The outbreak was declared September 4 in Kasai province, near the border with Angola, in a region with poor infrastructure and limited access.
Despite geographic and logistical hurdles, the Health Ministry, supported by WHO and partners, quickly scaled up vaccinations and treatment measures.
More than 35,000 people in Bulape received Ebola vaccinations, a crucial step in curbing the spread of the deadly virus.
If no new infections emerge, the outbreak could officially end by early December, signalling a major public health victory for the nation.
Ebola virus disease remains severe and often fatal, transmitted through close contact with infected blood, bodily fluids, or wildlife, and spreads rapidly between humans.