4 September 2025 - Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo have confirmed a new outbreak of the Ebola virus in central Kasai Province, with 15 deaths recorded since late August.
Speaking to reporters in Kinshasa on Thursday, Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said the outbreak marks the country’s 16th recorded episode of the deadly viral disease.
“The first case was reported on August 20 in a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to hospital,” Kamba said. “It’s the 16th outbreak recorded in our country.”
Provisional figures show 28 suspected cases have emerged in the region, prompting swift action from national and international health bodies. The World Health Organisation has deployed experts to Kasai to support Congolese response teams on the ground.
“We’re acting with determination to rapidly halt the spread of the virus and protect communities,” said WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi.
The DRC’s health authorities have confirmed that the Zaire strain of Ebola is responsible for the current outbreak. This particular strain is covered by an existing vaccine, and the country has a stockpile of treatments along with 2,000 vaccine doses. Plans are underway to transport the vaccines from Kinshasa to Kasai.
“Fortunately, we have a vaccine for this Zaire strain,” Kamba noted. “But to deploy it we need to ensure the logistics.”
The DRC, a vast country with a population exceeding 100 million, faces significant challenges in responding to health emergencies due to poor infrastructure and limited communication networks. The government is four times the size of France, and many remote areas remain inaccessible.
Ebola, first identified in 1976 and believed to have originated from bats, is a highly infectious disease spread through direct contact with bodily fluids. It causes severe bleeding, organ failure, and often leads to death.
The deadliest outbreak in the DRC occurred between 2018 and 2020, claiming nearly 2,300 lives. The last recorded outbreak, three years ago, resulted in six deaths.
As health teams race to contain the current outbreak, authorities warn that case numbers may rise in the coming days. Efforts are focused on treatment, vaccination, and community engagement to prevent further spread.
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