The Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a new Ebola virus outbreak in Kasai Province on September 4, 2025, following the confirmation of multiple cases and deaths linked to the Zaire strain of the virus. Health authorities reported at least 28 suspected cases and 15 fatalities, including four healthcare workers, as the country confronts its 16th recorded Ebola outbreak.
Health workers mobilize in Kasai as Congo confirms deadly new Ebola outbreak. (Stock Image)
The index case was identified as a 34-year-old pregnant woman from Boulapé, who was admitted to a local health facility on August 20 and died five days later from multiple organ failure. Subsequent laboratory testing confirmed the presence of Ebola Zaire, the most deadly strain of the virus. The outbreak has spread across the Boulapé and Mweka health zones, located in a remote area of the country with limited healthcare infrastructure.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention have activated emergency response teams and are coordinating efforts with the Ministry of Health to contain the virus. The WHO has deployed experts to the affected areas and delivered nearly two tonnes of medical supplies, including personal protective equipment, mobile laboratory kits, and essential medicines.
In addition, the country has access to a pre-positioned stock of Ebola treatments and up to 2,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, which will be administered to frontline workers and high-risk contacts. Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba said the preliminary case fatality rate stands at more than 53 percent, reflecting the severity of the outbreak. He noted that while the response is underway, access challenges in the affected zones are slowing containment efforts.
Remote location hampers outbreak control in Kasai Province
The area, which is reachable only by a day-long drive from Tshikapa and has poor air connectivity, poses significant logistical hurdles for healthcare workers and emergency responders. The Africa CDC has also sent its Director-General Jean Kaseya to Kinshasa to oversee the regional response. The agency is reinforcing disease surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory analysis, and data coordination in the outbreak zones.
Kaseya emphasized the urgency of a coordinated and rapid containment strategy to avoid further transmission in the province and beyond. This is the first confirmed Ebola outbreak in Kasai since 2008. The last Ebola outbreak in the country occurred in Equateur Province in 2022. The return of the virus highlights the continued risk of zoonotic spillover events in Central Africa, where the virus is believed to persist in animal reservoirs such as fruit bats.
Ebola virus disease is a highly contagious hemorrhagic illness transmitted through direct contact with blood or bodily fluids of infected individuals or animals. The virus has a high mortality rate and often overwhelms under-resourced healthcare systems, particularly in rural or conflict-affected regions. The presence of multiple concurrent health threats in the DRC, including outbreaks of cholera, mpox, and malaria, adds further strain on public health capabilities.
Access barriers raise concerns over containment effectiveness
In response, national and international health agencies are launching community awareness campaigns, scaling up vaccination efforts, and improving infection prevention protocols at local health centers. The priority remains identifying and isolating cases early to prevent cross-border spread and minimize loss of life. Authorities have urged the public to cooperate with health officials, follow safety guidelines, and report any symptoms consistent with Ebola.
Surveillance efforts are being intensified at entry and exit points in the province as part of a broader regional containment plan. The situation remains fluid, with health officials warning that case numbers may rise in the coming days. However, the swift mobilization of resources and lessons learned from past outbreaks are expected to play a crucial role in managing the crisis. – By Content Syndication Services.