On September 4, 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) declared its sixteenth outbreak of Ebola virus disease since the virus was first identified in 1976. The announcement, confirmed by the DRC Ministry of Health and widely reported by outlets such as AFP and The Independent, has triggered a rapid, multi-layered response from both national and international health agencies. The outbreak, centered in Kasai province near Angola, is already raising alarm bells across Africa and beyond, not least in neighboring Nigeria, where health authorities have moved swiftly to forestall any possible spread.
The index case in this latest outbreak was a 34-year-old pregnant woman from the locality of Boulapé in Mweka territory, southern Kasai. She was admitted to hospital in late August with symptoms of hemorrhagic fever, including high fever and persistent vomiting, according to AFP and The Independent. Tragically, she died within hours of admission from multiple organ failure. By the time the outbreak was officially declared, health authorities had identified 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four infections among healthcare workers, across the Bulape and Mweka health zones.
Laboratory tests conducted on September 3 at the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) in Kinshasa confirmed the presence of the Ebola Zaire strain, the most virulent form of the virus. According to Prof. Placide Mbala Kingebeni, Director of the Clinical Research Centre at INRB, a range of advanced molecular tools—including GeneXpert Ebola assays and nanopore sequencing—were used to rapidly confirm the diagnosis and begin mapping the outbreak. This genetic information is crucial for understanding transmission chains and tailoring the field response, as Prof. Mbala explained in an early analysis published on Virological.
The DRC’s experience with Ebola is, sadly, extensive. The country has faced fifteen previous outbreaks, with the most recent in Equateur province in 2022. That outbreak was contained in under three months through swift case tracing, targeted vaccination, and rigorous infection prevention and control. Kasai province itself last reported Ebola cases in 2007 and 2008. Yet, as Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, noted, each outbreak presents new challenges. “We are taking strong measures to bring this outbreak under control—protecting communities and supporting the health workers on the frontlines,” he said, according to The Independent.
The current outbreak’s fatality rate, estimated at around 53.6% by the DRC Health Ministry, underscores the gravity of the situation. Ebola virus disease is a rare but severe and often fatal illness in humans, with symptoms ranging from fever, vomiting, and diarrhea to muscle pain and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding. The virus is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids such as blood, vomit, or semen, as well as contaminated surfaces and materials. It can also be transmitted from wild animals, with fruit bats, monkeys, and apes recognized as reservoirs for the virus.
International agencies have not been slow to respond. Within hours of the outbreak’s confirmation, Africa CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) deployed experts to reinforce surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory capacity, and infection prevention and control in the affected zones. The WHO Africa Region office dispatched epidemiologists and specialists in case management, while two tonnes of personal protective equipment, mobile laboratory gear, and medicines were sent to Kasai province. “We’re acting with determination to rapidly halt the spread of the virus and protect communities,” said Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
Despite these efforts, the response faces significant logistical hurdles. Kasai is geographically isolated, with few air links and challenging road conditions, especially during the rainy season. It can take several days to reach affected areas from the provincial capital, Tshikapa, or Kinshasa. To address this, the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) has begun mapping population mobility in Kasai, aiming to identify major corridors and gathering places—such as markets and bus stations—where surveillance and prevention activities are most urgently needed. “Responding to this outbreak demands swift action, close coordination, and above all, a people-centered approach,” said Amy Pope, IOM Director General.
Health officials have also imposed partial confinement measures in Mweka territory, including the suspension of classes, graduation ceremonies, and the closure of weekly markets, to limit the virus’s spread. Dr. Amitié Bukidi, head of the Mweka health zone, reported that all four health zones in the territory had received suspected cases, and warned of the challenges posed by shortages of personnel and personal protective equipment. “Beyond that, our hospitals need to be supplied with medicines and special equipment capable of addressing this epidemic,” he told reporters.
The WHO has emphasized that case numbers are likely to rise in the coming days as teams transition from confirmation to active case-finding. “Case numbers are likely to increase as the transmission is ongoing,” the organization stated, adding that response teams are working to identify infected individuals and provide care as quickly as possible. Dr. Jean Paul Mikobi, chief medical officer of the Boulapé health zone, highlighted the difficulties in tracing and monitoring patients, as many residents have fled their villages in fear of contamination.
Fortunately, the arsenal against Ebola is stronger than in past outbreaks. The DRC holds a stockpile of the Ervebo vaccine, which has been proven effective against the Ebola Zaire strain. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), this vaccine, along with targeted ring vaccination strategies—immunizing contacts of confirmed cases and frontline health workers—can dramatically reduce mortality rates, sometimes to as low as 20–30% with prompt treatment. The country also maintains a supply of therapeutics and has robust protocols for supportive care.
Nigeria, which experienced its only Ebola outbreak in 2014, resulting in 20 cases and eight deaths, is taking no chances. Dr. Jide Idris, Director-General of the NCDC, assured Nigerians that there are currently no confirmed cases of Ebola in the country, but emphasized that preparedness has been intensified. Surveillance at entry points, healthcare facilities, and communities has been heightened, and infection control measures are being strictly enforced. “We urge frequent handwashing with soap and water, avoidance of contact with symptomatic individuals, and prompt reporting of suspected cases,” Idris said in a public health advisory issued in Abuja.
He also advised against consuming raw or undercooked bushmeat and warned against contact with wildlife known to harbor the virus. Nigerians were further urged to avoid non-essential travel to countries experiencing Ebola outbreaks and to report unusual illnesses, especially among recent travelers, via the NCDC toll-free line 6232. Healthcare workers were reminded to maintain a high index of suspicion and to follow infection prevention protocols rigorously.
As the DRC and its partners race to contain the outbreak, the lessons of history are clear: early action, transparent communication, and community engagement are critical. With laboratory equipment humming in Kinshasa, vaccines ready for deployment, and field teams braving mud and distance, the DRC is once again demonstrating the resolve and expertise required to confront one of the world’s most formidable viral threats.
