1997 - Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Gabon (new outbreak) - Update 16

A new outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever has been reported in Gabon, according to the World Health Organization's Disease Outbreak News. The first reported case occurred on 13 July 1996, and the outbreak was declared over on 02 March 1997, after 42 days of intensive surveillance and monitoring of contacts.

As of the declaration of the outbreak's end, there were a total of 60 confirmed cases, with 45 deaths reported. The case fatality ratio is 75%, indicating that three-quarters of those infected with the virus died from the disease. The World Health Organization has confirmed these numbers.

The outbreak was limited to Gabon, with no reported cases in other countries. No information is available on the transit context, as this outbreak was not related to a vessel or aircraft.

The Gabonese health authorities have declared the outbreak over, and the World Health Organization has confirmed this status. Readers can follow updates on the outbreak from the World Health Organization's Disease Outbreak News at https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/1997_03_02-en.