Kikwit
Kikwit is a city in Kwilu Province in southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It became internationally known after a 1995 Ebola outbreak.
1995 Kikwit Ebola outbreak: An Ebola virus disease outbreak centered in Kikwit, Zaire, in 1995, with 315 reported cases and 250 deaths. The outbreak brought Kikwit international attention and shaped its modern public-health history.
Ebola transmission: The spread of Ebola viruses through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, contaminated materials, or infected animals. Transmission during caregiving and funerals drove much of the spread in Kikwit.
Kwilu Province: A province in southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo, with Bandundu as its capital. Kikwit is one of the province's principal cities.
World Health Organization: A United Nations agency that coordinates international public health and sets health guidance. The WHO supported investigation and response during the Kikwit outbreak.
Ebola virus disease: A severe viral illness caused by viruses in the genus Orthoebolavirus, often involving fever, weakness, vomiting, and bleeding. The disease behind the outbreak defined Kikwit's global association with Ebola.
Contact tracing: The systematic identification and follow-up of people who may have been exposed to an infectious disease case. Teams used contact tracing to find exposed people and interrupt chains of transmission.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: A country in Central Africa, formerly known as Zaire from 1971 to 1997. Kikwit lies in the country's southwestern region.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: A United States federal public-health agency that investigates disease and develops prevention guidance. CDC personnel contributed epidemiologic and laboratory support to the response.
Mayinga N'Seka: A Congolese nurse who died of Ebola during the 1976 outbreak in Yambuku, becoming one of its most widely documented patients. Her case links Kikwit's outbreak to the earlier history of Ebola in Zaire.
Infection prevention and control: Practices that reduce the spread of infections in healthcare and community settings. Protective practices addressed risks to hospital workers and patients during the outbreak.