Congolese Health Minister Eteni Longondo on June25 officially proclaimed the end of the Ebola epidemic in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the second most serious outbreak since the discovery of the virus in 1976.

Longondo said the epidemic, which was declared on August 1, 2018, has killed 2,277 people and was the longest, most complex and deadliest in the country’s history. However, the end of the epidemic in the eastern side of the country comes hot on the heels of another outbreak that was declared on June 1 in the western city of Mbandaka, more than 1,000 kilometers away — even though genetic testing revealed the two epidemics were not connected.

"The health ministry intends to capitalize on the lessons learned and the success factors from this long epidemic to assure the most effective response possible in Mbandaka," Longondo said.

In a statement released to the press, the World Health Organization congratulated all those involved in the arduous and often dangerous work required to end the outbreak, but stressed the need for vigilance.

"The outbreak took so much from all of us, especially from the people of DRC, but we came out of it with valuable lessons and tools. The world is now better-equipped to respond to Ebola. A vaccine has been licensed, and effective treatments identified," WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said in a statement.

"We should celebrate this moment, but we must resist complacency. Viruses do not take breaks. Ultimately, the best defense against any outbreak is investing in a stronger health system as the foundation for universal health coverage," Ghebreyesus added.

According to Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, the health body’s work will continue to build on the gains made in the Ebola response to address other health challenges, including measles and coronavirus.

"During the two years we fought the Ebola virus, WHO and partners helped strengthen the capacity of local health authorities to manage outbreaks. The DRC is now better, smarter and faster at responding to Ebola and this is an enduring legacy which is supporting the response to COVID-19 and other outbreaks," Moeti said.

WHO also said it is supporting the government-led response in the western city of Mbandaka, with more than 50 staff already deployed and more than 5,000 vaccinations already administered.