Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have confirmed a new outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the central Kasai province, which has claimed 15 lives since late August 2025.
The announcement was made on September 4 by the country’s health minister, Samuel Roger Kamba, during a press briefing in Kinshasa.
The current outbreak, identified as the 16th occurrence of Ebola in the DRC, began on August 20 with a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to a hospital exhibiting symptoms consistent with Ebola.
Since then, health officials have recorded 28 suspected cases, including infections among healthcare workers, highlighting the high-risk nature of the virus.
Samples taken from suspected patients were tested and confirmed to be the Ebola Zaire strain, a highly contagious and often fatal variant for which an effective vaccine, the Ervebo vaccine, is available.
The health ministry noted that while the vaccine stockpile exists, logistical hurdles due to the region’s poor infrastructure could complicate timely vaccine deployment and containment efforts.
Kasai province, sharing a border with Angola, is a remote and conflict-affected area with limited transportation and communication networks.
Previous Ebola outbreaks in this province occurred in 2007 and 2008, while the last national outbreak took place in 2022 in the Équateur province.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has deployed rapid response teams alongside national medical personnel to enhance surveillance, case management, infection control, and community education.
WHO’s regional director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, emphasized the urgency of quickly scaling up response measures to prevent further spread and protect vulnerable communities.
Symptoms of Ebola include high fever, severe fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, internal and external bleeding due to organ failure.
The virus spreads primarily through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, making prompt identification and isolation critical.
The DRC has experienced more Ebola outbreaks than any other country, with the deadliest between 2018-2020 causing nearly 2,300 deaths.
Heightened vigilance and rapid response remain essential as transmission risks persist.
Local health officials continue to investigate the outbreak’s origin, suspecting a zoonotic spillover, likely from bats, the common reservoir host.
Community engagement and preventive practices such as hand hygiene and avoiding contact with infected persons are being intensified.
International support, including doses of Ebola vaccines and medical supplies from WHO, UNICEF, and other partners, is facilitating containment efforts. However, maintaining security and access in conflict zones remains a significant challenge.
The DRC’s health system is under pressure from multiple concurrent public health threats, but authorities remain committed to swiftly ending the outbreak to prevent another tragic loss of life.
