The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is breathing a cautious sigh of relief as its latest Ebola outbreak appears to be drawing to a close. Over the weekend, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the last Ebola patient in the remote Bulape health district of Kasai province was discharged, setting off a 42-day countdown. If no new cases emerge during this period, the outbreak will officially be declared over in early December 2025. It’s a moment of hope for a region that has seen more than its share of hardship.
The outbreak, declared on September 4, 2025, quickly became a race against time and terrain. According to the Associated Press, the epidemic struck a particularly remote and rural area, making access for health workers a logistical nightmare. Poor road networks and limited infrastructure meant that even basic medical supplies and personnel faced significant delays. Yet, despite these obstacles, the response was swift and coordinated, a testament to the lessons learned from previous outbreaks.
In total, 64 cases were reported during this outbreak—53 confirmed and 11 probable. Tragically, 43 people lost their lives, including three health care workers, while 19 patients recovered, according to WHO data. The estimated case-fatality rate hovered around 67%. For a disease that, without treatment, can kill up to 90% of those infected, every survivor counts as a victory.
Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, described the progress as extraordinary. "The recovery of the last patient just six weeks after the outbreak was declared is a remarkable achievement that shows how strong partnership, national expertise and determination have contributed to overcoming challenges to save and protect lives," he said, as cited by multiple outlets including the AP and WHO’s own statements. The speed of the response, he added, was pivotal to containing the outbreak before it could spiral further out of control.
One of the cornerstones of this success was the rapid deployment of resources. Within days of the first confirmed case, a 32-bed Ebola treatment centre was erected in Bulape, featuring a two-bed Intensive Infectious Disease Treatment Module. This was the first time such a facility had been deployed outside of a simulated exercise in the region, according to WHO and local health officials. The centre became the focal point for clinical care, infection prevention, and community engagement.
But bricks and mortar were only part of the story. The vaccination campaign proved to be a game changer. Vaccines arrived in Bulape just 10 days after the initial case was identified, and health workers quickly implemented a ring vaccination strategy. This approach targeted close contacts of confirmed cases, frontline clinicians, and others at heightened risk. In just six weeks, more than 35,000 people in the Bulape health zone received the Ebola vaccine, a scale of immunization rarely matched in such a short period and under such challenging conditions.
Community engagement was essential to the campaign’s success. Local resident Bethy (surname unknown) shared her experience with WHO: "Community health workers visited our village to speak to us about the importance of the Ebola vaccine. Thanks to the explanation we received, I decided to get vaccinated to protect myself." Stories like Bethy’s underscore the critical role that trust and information play in public health emergencies.
Of course, the fight against Ebola in DRC is not new. Since the virus was first identified in what is now the DRC in 1976, the country has endured 16 outbreaks. The most recent before this one occurred in 2022 and involved just a single case. The largest outbreak in history, however, took place in West Africa between 2014 and 2016, infecting over 28,600 people and claiming 11,325 lives, with the virus even reaching Europe and the United States, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This latest outbreak in Kasai was the first in the province in nearly two decades. The region’s isolation, while complicating the response, may have also helped prevent the virus from spreading more widely. Still, the challenges were immense. Five healthcare workers were infected, three fatally, as they worked tirelessly to care for patients and curb the disease’s advance. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which partnered with the Ministry of Health, reflected on social media: "Our team worked with the Ministry of Health to strengthen infection control, build treatment and isolation centres, and care for patients. Thanks to joint efforts, the epidemic appears to be under control."
On X (formerly Twitter), WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus celebrated the milestone: "Very good news from the #DRC: the last person with #Ebola was discharged from the treatment centre today. In this outbreak, 19 people have recovered, of the 64 people affected. The others sadly died. No new cases have been reported since 25 September. Today’s milestone…" The sense of relief was palpable, but so was the recognition that vigilance must continue.
Indeed, the WHO and its partners remain on the ground, working closely with Congolese authorities to maintain surveillance and rapid-response capabilities. The 42-day countdown—twice the maximum incubation period for Ebola—serves as both a buffer and a warning. Any new case would reset the clock and potentially reignite the crisis.
The stakes are high. Without ongoing support and monitoring, there’s always the risk that undetected cases could spark fresh transmission. As Dr. Janabi emphasized, "The country’s robust response, with support from WHO and partners, was pivotal to this achievement." The lessons learned here will inform future outbreaks, not just in DRC but across the continent and beyond.
This outbreak also comes in a year marked by other Ebola scares in the region. Earlier in 2025, Uganda reported 14 cases and four deaths in a separate outbreak, underscoring the persistent threat posed by the virus. The DRC’s experience highlights both the progress made in managing Ebola and the ongoing need for investment in health infrastructure, community engagement, and rapid deployment of resources.
As the countdown continues, hope is tempered with caution. The people of Kasai, and indeed the whole of the DRC, are all too aware that the battle against Ebola is never truly over. But for now, the discharge of the final patient stands as a testament to what can be achieved when local expertise, international partnership, and community trust come together in the face of adversity.