By Our Correspondent
National News – The World Health Organization has announced the first confirmed recovery of an Ebola patient in the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The patient was discharged from a treatment facility on May 27 after recording two consecutive negative test results, marking a significant milestone in efforts to contain the deadly disease.
The announcement was made by WHO technical officer Anais Legand during a media briefing on Friday.
According to the organization, the recovered patient is the first laboratory-confirmed Ebola case to successfully leave a care centre since the outbreak was officially declared on May 15.
The current outbreak is affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.
WHO data shows that there have been 125 confirmed cases and more than 900 suspected infections.
Health authorities have also recorded 17 confirmed deaths and 223 suspected Ebola-related fatalities since the outbreak began.
Legand explained that while this is the first confirmed patient to recover and be discharged, other individuals may have recovered before receiving official laboratory confirmation.
She noted that the recovery demonstrates the importance of timely medical intervention and effective patient management.
The WHO said the Bundibugyo strain remains particularly challenging because there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment designed to combat it.
Despite this, healthcare workers continue to provide supportive care that can significantly improve survival chances when patients receive treatment early.
Although the strain can have a fatality rate of up to 50 percent, current figures from the outbreak suggest the mortality rate is below 25 percent.
Health experts caution that these numbers may change as investigations and case confirmations continue.
WHO officials remain optimistic that more patients will recover as treatment efforts expand and awareness campaigns encourage people to seek medical help quickly.
The agency has also pledged continued support for DRC health authorities as they work to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread.
