How the Congo Ebola outbreak became a global worry

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A timeline of the deadly Ebola outbreak in Congo and how it came to be a global health concern

Reuters |
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A woman gets her temperature measured at an Ebola screening station as she enters the Democratic Republic of the Congo from Rwanda on July 16, 2019 in Goma.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Congo’s Ebola outbreak an international health emergency, after the virus threatened to spread to a major city and into neighbouring countries.The response has been hampered by frequent militia violence and low public trust. Below is a timeline of the latest Ebola epidemic.

Aug 1 2018:

Congo health ministry declares four cases in the eastern town of Mangina, 100 km from the Ugandan border in a province beset by militia violence. It marks the start of Congo’s 10th Ebola outbreak since 1976.

The announcement comes eight days after another Ebola outbreak in western Congo was successfully contained with the use of an experimental new vaccine from Merck.

WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says he is confident in Congo’s ability to contain the virus. WHO sends staff and supplies.

Aug 2 2018:

The WHO says the virus is likely spread over tens of kilometres and poses a high regional risk given its proximity to borders.

Health officials in Mangina rush to educate the public about the risks of Ebola and how to stop its spread.

Ebola identified as the deadliest Zaire strain, for which, however, an experimental vaccine exists.

Aug 4 2018:

Congo health ministry says outbreak has likely killed 33 people. Suspected cases are detected in North Kivu province, where Mangina is located, and neighbouring Ituri province.

Congolese are seen lining up to wash their hands and get their temperatures taken at a Ebola screening station.
AFP

Aug 8 2018:

Congo and WHO begin vaccinating health workers. 43 people are believed to have been infected, including 36 who have died. 900 contacts are identified for monitoring.

Aug 17 2018:

Militia violence prevents aid workers from reaching some potential cases. Over 2,000 people have been potentially exposed to the virus.

Sept 5, 2018:

First Ebola death recorded in trading hub of Butembo, a city of almost a million with links to Uganda. Death toll hits 85.

Sept 25, 2018:

The WHO says it is “extremely concerned” about the outbreak as the death toll reaches 100, two days after militias kill 12 civilians in the town of Beni, near the outbreak’s epicentre.

Oct 17, 2018:

WHO emergency committee falls short of declaring a public health emergency of international concern, but warns it will worsen unless the response is stepped up. Death toll hits 139.

Everything you need to know about Ebola 

Nov. 2 2018:

Uganda starts vaccinating health workers.

Nov 29, 2018:

Outbreak becomes the second biggest ever, with 426 cases and 245 deaths, the health ministry says. The West Africa outbreak in 2013-16 killed over 11,000 people.

Feb 24-27, 2019:

Two MSF Ebola treatment centres are attacked by armed assailants and set on fire.

March 25, 2019:

Ebola cases hit 1,000, five days after the virus is detected in Bunia, a city with close to 1 million people.

April 12, 2019:

WHO says the outbreak still does not constitute an international emergency.

Anti-Ebola protective gear is hung up to dry at a health centre.
Photo: Reuters

May 3, 2019:

The death toll rises above 1,000. Attacks on treatment centres by armed groups continue.

May 28, 2019:

A mob in Vusahiro village kill an Ebola health worker and loot a clinic. WHO says between Jan and early May, there were 42 attacks on health facilities, with 85 workers either injured or killed.

June 4, 2019:

Ebola cases top 2,000 as the rate of new cases triples.

June 11-12, 2019:

Uganda confirms its first case, a 5-year-old Congolese child who dies the next day. A day later, two new cases are reported.

July 14, 2019:

First case detected in Goma, with a population of more than one million. The patient, a priest, is pronounced dead by authorities two days later.

July 17, 2019:

WHO declares outbreak an international health emergency.

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