DR Congo confirms 15 deaths in Ebola outbreak, response underway

An Ebola outbreak has been declared in the Kasai Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 15 deaths including four health workers and 28 suspected cases as of early September 2025. The virus identified is Ebola Zaire, confirmed by the National Institute of Biomedical Research in Kinshasa, and the affected areas include the Bulape and Mweka health zones. The World Health Organization has deployed a national Rapid Response Team alongside experts to enhance surveillance, infection prevention, and treatment efforts, delivering critical supplies such as protective equipment and mobile lab kits despite the region's difficult access. The outbreak occurs amid ongoing health challenges in Central and West Africa, including cholera and malnutrition, with the DRC having experienced 15 Ebola outbreaks since 1976. WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Mohamed Janabi emphasized rapid action to halt the virus's spread, relying on the country's experience in managing viral outbreaks. Past outbreaks in Kasai and elsewhere in the DRC have been controlled successfully, with the last outbreak in Equateur province ending in under three months.