By Jamillah Kemigisa
A fresh Ebola outbreak has been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with health authorities warning of a fast-spreading crisis in southern Kasai province. The Ministry of Health has reported 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four healthcare workers, sparking urgent international intervention.
The outbreak was first detected in Boulapé on August 20, when a 34-year-old pregnant woman died just five days after developing severe symptoms. Within two weeks, the virus had claimed 14 more lives in Boulapé and Mweka, highlighting how quickly Ebola can spread in remote areas with fragile health systems. Officials estimate the current fatality rate at 53.6 percent.
Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba confirmed the figures and warned that the outbreak was straining local infrastructure. “To date, the provisional report shows 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health care workers,” he said. Victims presented classic Ebola symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and heavy bleeding. The loss of frontline health workers underscores the extreme risks faced by medical staff operating without adequate protection.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has moved swiftly to support DRC’s response. A team of experts in epidemiology, case management, infection prevention, and laboratory testing has been deployed to Kasai, alongside two tonnes of protective gear, emergency medicines, and mobile lab units. “We’re acting with determination to rapidly halt the spread of the virus and protect communities,” said Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO’s Regional Director for Africa.
Authorities confirmed that Congo still holds 2,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, proven effective in past outbreaks, along with a stockpile of treatments. The vaccines, currently in Kinshasa, will be dispatched to Kasai to protect health workers and contacts of confirmed cases. However, poor road networks and weak communications in Kasai are slowing the delivery of critical supplies.
This marks the 16th Ebola outbreak in DRC since the virus was first identified in 1976. The deadliest was between 2018 and 2020 in North Kivu and Ituri, which killed nearly 2,300 people. A more recent flare-up in 2022 in Equateur province was controlled in three months thanks to vaccination and rapid response measures. Still, the current resurgence has reignited fears of a larger epidemic if transmission spreads beyond Kasai.
Ebola is one of the world’s deadliest pathogens, with fatality rates ranging from 50 to 90 percent. It spreads through contact with bodily fluids such as blood, vomit, sweat, and semen, making caregiving and traditional burials particularly dangerous. Experts stress that community cooperation will be vital for success, with safe burials, early detection, and isolation of cases at the core of containment efforts.
For now, health workers are racing against time to trace contacts, administer vaccines, and stop the virus before it expands further. Both the DRC government and international agencies have urged vigilance, stressing that only strong community engagement and sustained global support can prevent another devastating epidemic.
