World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the first recovery of a patient infected with Ebola in the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Speaking on Friday, WHO official Anais Legand disclosed that the patient recovered on May 27, tested negative twice, and was subsequently discharged from the treatment centre back into the community.
“The DRC has said that on May 27, a patient recovered and left the hospital and has been discharged into the community,” Legand said, describing it as the “first” confirmed recovery linked to the current outbreak.
According to the WHO, the DRC has so far recorded 17 confirmed Ebola deaths and 223 suspected fatalities since the outbreak was declared on May 15, with 125 confirmed cases and more than 900 suspected infections reported.
Health experts noted that the outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment, although early medical intervention has continued to improve survival chances.
“We are expecting more people to recover,” Legand added, while stressing the importance of quick access to proper healthcare for infected patients.
