The World Health Organization announced Friday that the first confirmed Ebola patient in the latest outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has recovered and been discharged from medical care, offering a hopeful sign as health officials continue efforts to contain the deadly virus.
WHO official Anais Legand said the patient left the hospital on May 27 after testing negative twice for the virus.
“This is the first one,” Legand told reporters, referring to a confirmed patient discharged from treatment during the current outbreak.
The outbreak, which was officially declared on May 15, has resulted in 17 confirmed deaths and more than 200 suspected fatalities, according to WHO figures. Health authorities have also identified 125 confirmed cases and over 900 suspected infections.
The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a variant for which there is currently no approved vaccine or targeted treatment. Experts say the strain can carry a fatality rate of up to 50 percent, though officials noted survival rates improve significantly when patients receive early medical care.
“We are expecting more people to recover,” Legand said.
Health officials continue monitoring the spread of the virus while working to strengthen treatment access and surveillance efforts across affected communities.
