Ebola fever outbreak is over, WHO says

The Ebola haemorrhagic fever outbreak in Ogooue-Ivindo region of Gabon has ended, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Thursday. The last notified case died on 19 March and no cases have since been reported, it added. "As of 6 May, the Gabonese Ministry of Public Health officially declared the end of the capital outbreak," WHO said. “No further cases have been reported for a period equivalent to twice the maximum incubation period for Ebola," it added. WHO did not mention the status of the outbreak in Republic of Congo. The outbreak began in December 2001 and has mainly affected the Mekambo area, 600 km east of Libreville, and districts across the border in neighbouring Republic of Congo. On 10 April, WHO said 65 confirmed cases including 53 deaths had been reported by the Gabonese Ministry of Health. In nearby Republic of Congo, 32 cases including 20 deaths had been reported as at 29 March in Mbomo district, in the western Cuvette region while 23 deaths were reported in Kelle district. Ebola is a haemorrhagic fever transmitted through direct contact with body fluids of infected persons or other primates. There is no cure and between 50 percent and 90 percent of victims die.