Ebola virus disease update 21 August

The outbreak in Uganda is now considered to be contained. However, in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo a total of 15 (13 probable and 2 confirmed) cases with 10 deaths have been reported in 3 health zones of Province Orientale. The strain of Ebola virus in this outbreak is different to that which caused the disease in Uganda.

The Congolese Ministry of Health has convened a National Task Force and is working with several partners including World Health Organisation, UNICEF, Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) Suisse, MSF Belgique, and the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Similar Task Forces have been established at provincial and district levels to oversee and guide the response.

WHO does not recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied to Democratic Republic of Congo.