A zoom into the Democratic Republic of Congo

What’s happening on the continent? Today we go to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Government of the (DRC) announced this week that a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease is occurring in Wangata health zone, Mbandaka, in Équateur province. The announcement comes as a long, difficult and complex Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC is in its final phase, while the country also battles COVID-19 and the world’s largest measles outbreak.Initial information from the Ministry of Health is that eight Ebola cases have so far been detected in Wangata, of which four have died (one laboratory confirmed case and three probable cases) and four are alive (two laboratory confirmed and two probable). It is likely more people will be identified with the disease as surveillance activities increase. Here is an interview with the World Health Organisation’s Technical Officer Dr Mary Stephens.