A timeline of Congo’s latest deadly Ebola virus outbreak

JOHANNESBURG – The latest deadly Ebola outbreak in Congo is now an international emergency , the World Health Organization announced Wednesday. Here’s a timeline of key events since this outbreak, now the second deadliest of Ebola in history, was declared almost a year ago in a region described as a war zone.

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Aug. 1: The outbreak is declared in northeastern Congo’s North Kivu province, a turbulent region where dozens of rebel groups are active.

Aug. 8: The first of scores of thousands of vaccinations begin with an experimental but effective vaccine.

Sept. 5: Congo says the outbreak spreads to Butembo, a city of more than 1 million people.

Oct. 2: Red Cross workers are attacked by community members in an early sign of resistance to Ebola response efforts in a region where the virus had never been recorded before.

Oct. 17: After an emergency expert meeting, the World Health Organization says it is “deeply concerned” but the outbreak is not a global emergency.

Nov. 29: WHO says this is now the second largest Ebola outbreak in history with 426 cases.

Dec. 26: Congo bars people in key Ebola-affected areas from voting in the presidential election, sparking anger and feeding rumours that the outbreak is a political ploy.

Feb. 24: Assailants attack an Ebola treatment centre in Katwa, killing one caretaker and leading aid group Doctors Without Borders within days to suspend operations there and in Butembo.

April 12: After a second emergency meeting, WHO says the outbreak is not yet a global emergency.

April 19: Attackers storm a hospital in Butembo and kill a WHO epidemiologist.

May 3: Congo’s health ministry says more than 1,000 people have died in the outbreak.

June 4: The outbreak surpasses 2,000 confirmed Ebola cases.

June 11: Uganda announces its first confirmed Ebola case in this outbreak.

June 14: After a third emergency meeting, WHO says the outbreak is not yet a global emergency.

July 14: Congo’s health ministry confirms the first Ebola case in Goma, a city of more than 2 million people on the Rwandan border.

July 17: After a fourth expert meeting, WHO declares an international emergency. More than 1,600 people have died since the outbreak began.