So far in the grip of a measles epidemic, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had deplored the loss of more than 7,000 children in less than twenty-five months. The Congolese Minister of Health declared, Tuesday, August 25, in Kinshasa, the end of this murderous wave, while insisting on the continuation of the vaccination campaigns.

"For a month now, we can say that this epidemic has been eliminated throughout our territory [...]. We can say that measles no longer exists" in the DRC, announced the minister, Dr Eteni. Longondo, during a press conference.

He also warned that "routine vaccinations will continue" with children, in order to avoid a resurgence of this disease which is experiencing "periodic peaks".

Covid-19 and Ebola continue to threaten the Congolese

The first cases of measles were recorded in July 2018. In January 2020, the WHO declared that it had identified "more than 335,413 suspected cases and 6,362 deaths".

Measles is not the only fight, the DRC is currently fighting the Covid-19 epidemic, which has killed 251 people out of the 9,891 cases recorded since March 10.

An Ebola hemorrhagic fever epidemic also broke out on June 1 in Equateur province (North West) and has already killed 43 people, according to the latest official figures.

With AFP   

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