2021 North Kivu Ebola

2021 North Kivu Ebola Outbreak

The 2021 North Kivu Ebola Outbreak refers to the resurgence of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This outbreak, which began in February 2021, is the 12th recorded Ebola outbreak in the DRC and the second in North Kivu, following the 2018-2020 Kivu Ebola epidemic.

Background

The Ebola virus is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. It is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%, but case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.

Outbreak

The 2021 North Kivu Ebola outbreak was declared on February 7, 2021, after a woman from the town of Biena died from the disease. The woman was married to a survivor of the 2018-2020 Kivu Ebola epidemic, suggesting a possible link between the two outbreaks.

Response

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the DRC's Ministry of Health have been working together to respond to the outbreak. Measures have included contact tracing, vaccination campaigns, and community engagement efforts.

Impact

The outbreak has had significant impacts on the health, social, and economic aspects of life in North Kivu. It has also posed challenges for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response in the region.

See also

• Ebola virus disease
• 2018-2020 Kivu Ebola epidemic
• Health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo