2002 - Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Gabon/The Republic of the Congo - Update 16

The current outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever was first reported on 5 February 2002, by the Gabonese Ministry of Health. As of the latest update, the outbreak is ongoing in Gabon and the Republic of the Congo.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 49 confirmed cases of Ebola haemorrhagic fever, with no probable or suspected cases reported. The case fatality ratio is 85.7%, with 42 reported deaths. The WHO reports that the increase in confirmed cases is largely due to a reclassification of suspect cases following the availability of laboratory results.

The outbreak is currently confined to Gabon and the Republic of the Congo. The WHO reports that 20 confirmed cases, including 12 deaths, have been reported in villages in the Republic of the Congo, close to the border with Gabon.

The public health response to the outbreak is being led by the Gabonese Ministry of Health and the WHO. For the latest updates on the outbreak, readers can follow the WHO Disease Outbreak News bulletin at https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2002_02_07-en.