2018–19 Kivu Ebola epidemic

2018–19 Kivu Ebola epidemic

Electron micrograph of an Ebola virus virion

Disease	[[Ebola virus disease|Ebola virus disease]]
Virus strain	[[|{{{virus_strain}}}]]
First case
Origin	[[|{{{origin}}}]]
Date	August 2018 – June 2020
Confirmed cases	3,470
Suspected cases
Recovered
Deaths	2,287
Territories

The 2018–19 Kivu Ebola epidemic was a significant outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) that occurred in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It was the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history, following the West African Ebola epidemic of 2014–2016. The outbreak was declared on 1 August 2018 and was officially declared over on 25 June 2020.

Background

The outbreak occurred in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, areas that have been affected by ongoing conflict and instability. This made the response efforts particularly challenging, as healthcare workers had to navigate security threats and community mistrust.

The Ebola virus is a member of the Filoviridae family and causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and other primates. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals or animals.

Response and Challenges

The response to the Kivu Ebola epidemic involved multiple international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The response was complicated by the region's political instability, armed conflict, and community resistance to health interventions.

Efforts to control the outbreak included the use of the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine, which was administered to over 300,000 people in a "ring vaccination" strategy. This approach involves vaccinating contacts of confirmed cases and their contacts, creating a "ring" of immunity around the outbreak.

Impact

The epidemic resulted in 3,470 confirmed cases and 2,287 deaths, with a case fatality rate of approximately 66%. The outbreak had a significant impact on the local healthcare infrastructure and highlighted the need for improved surveillance and rapid response capabilities in the region.

Lessons Learned

The Kivu Ebola epidemic underscored the importance of community engagement and trust-building in outbreak response. It also demonstrated the effectiveness of vaccination in controlling the spread of Ebola, although logistical challenges in vaccine delivery were noted.

Also see

• Ebola virus disease
• West African Ebola epidemic
• Ebola vaccine
• World Health Organization
• Democratic Republic of the Congo