Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo tops 1,000 cases

CDC remains committed to bringing outbreak to an end

Media Statement

For Immediate Release: Sunday, March 24, 2019
Contact: Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

As of March 24, 2019, public health officials have documented that the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has surpassed 1,000 cases; the current total number of confirmed and probable cases is 1009, including 625 deaths and 318 survivors. The outbreak is the largest in DRC’s history and the second largest outbreak recorded of Ebola ever (after the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa).

“This is a disappointing milestone. This remains a highly complex Ebola outbreak with active transmission in 13 of the 21 affected health zones,” said CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, M.D. “Despite this, CDC will continue to work 24/7 with our partners in DRC, in DRC’s neighboring countries, and around the world to prevent the spread of Ebola and bring this outbreak to an end.”

The outbreak in DRC is occurring in a region where there is armed conflict, outbreaks of violence, and other problems that complicate public health response activities and increase the risk of disease spread both locally within DRC and to neighboring countries. CDC continues to provide technical assistance to the Ministries of Health of DRC and neighboring countries, in collaboration with international partners, to ensure the response is robust and well coordinated and bring the outbreak to an end.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether disease start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.