Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are racing against the clock to contain the country’s latest Ebola outbreak, the first in nearly two decades to strike the remote Kasai province. As of mid-September 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa’s top public health agencies have sounded alarms over mounting logistical and financial obstacles that threaten to undermine the response effort—and potentially allow the deadly virus to spread even further.
According to the WHO, the outbreak was first confirmed on September 4, 2025, in the locality of Bulape, Kasai, a region more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) from the capital, Kinshasa. Since then, the number of suspected Ebola cases has jumped from 28 to 68, with 16 deaths reported by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) as of September 13. The outbreak marks the country’s 16th overall and the first in Kasai province since 2008, making it a grim milestone for a region that has not faced Ebola in 18 years, as reported by Africanews.
“We have struggled in the last seven days with access but are collaborating with MONUSCO (UN peacekeeping mission in Congo) now,” Patrick Otim, WHO’s Programme Area Manager, told a briefing in Geneva on September 12. The area’s poor road infrastructure and distance from major cities have complicated the delivery of critical medical supplies and personnel. In a bid to overcome these hurdles, a United Nations peacekeeping helicopter was deployed to deliver 400 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine to Bulape on September 12, with the vaccination campaign slated to begin the following day. An additional 1,500 doses are scheduled to be sent from Kinshasa, according to Otim.
The urgency is palpable. Otim emphasized, “It’s possible, but it will be challenging,” referring to the prospects of containing the outbreak. He added that the next two weeks are crucial: “Containing the outbreak is possible, but it will be challenging if we miss the window of opportunity.” This sentiment was echoed repeatedly in briefings and interviews, underscoring the need for immediate and coordinated action.
Despite the delivery of initial vaccine doses, the scale of the challenge is daunting. The WHO has stated that Congo has a stockpile of 2,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, intended to protect frontline health workers and those who have come into contact with confirmed Ebola patients. However, with the outbreak’s potential to expand rapidly—especially after the most recent confirmed case was found 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Bulape—WHO plans to request an additional 40,000 to 50,000 vaccine doses for Congo to ensure adequate coverage.
But vaccines are only part of the solution. The capacity to respond effectively in Kasai is currently limited, with new treatment facilities urgently needed. “We have the expertise, DRC has the expertise, but we need to be able to get the people and supplies into place and we need to be able to pay for the operations,” Otim stressed during a Geneva briefing, as reported by Reuters. The projected cost for WHO’s outbreak response over the next three months is $20 million, while Congo’s own national response plan is estimated at $78 million. The gap between available resources and operational needs is stark, and officials warn that delays in securing funding could cost lives.
Compounding these difficulties are recent cuts to foreign assistance, particularly from the United States. The U.S. had previously played a pivotal role in supporting Congo’s Ebola response, including a $11.5 million contribution from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2021. However, the dismantling of USAID under former President Donald Trump and subsequent reductions in funding have left significant gaps in the country’s preparedness. As Otim candidly noted, “We need to be able to pay for the operations.” The loss of U.S. support has raised concerns about the ability to mount an effective response, especially if the outbreak spreads beyond the current epicenter.
The risk of further spread is not merely hypothetical. Otim warned that if new cases emerge in neighboring health zones, the effort to contain Ebola will become even more resource-intensive. There is also a moderate risk of the outbreak crossing international borders, with Angola identified as the most prioritized country for monitoring. The WHO and Africa CDC are closely watching developments, aware that a missed opportunity now could have repercussions far beyond Congo’s remote southern provinces.
For local communities, the stakes are painfully high. The remote nature of Kasai province not only hampers the delivery of medical aid but also complicates public health messaging and contact tracing, both of which are critical to halting transmission. The memory of previous outbreaks, including the devastating West Africa epidemic of 2014-2016, looms large in the minds of health officials. Lessons learned from past crises have informed current strategies, but the persistent challenges of geography, infrastructure, and funding remain formidable obstacles.
Against this backdrop, the international community’s response will be closely scrutinized. The WHO, in coordination with Congo’s health ministry and partners, has “ramped up efforts to have a full scale response on ground,” as Otim put it. Yet, the effectiveness of these efforts hinges on timely support—both financial and logistical—from global donors and agencies. The next few weeks will be decisive in determining whether the window of opportunity to contain the outbreak remains open or slips away.
As the world watches, the people of Kasai province and the health workers on the frontlines are left to grapple with the immediate realities of the crisis. The delivery of vaccines by helicopter, the scramble for funding, and the ever-present risk of further spread all serve as stark reminders of the fragility of global health security. For now, the hope is that with swift action and renewed support, Congo can once again bring Ebola under control before the outbreak spirals out of reach.