The response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is accelerating, with intensified measures aimed at breaking the chain of transmission. Since the declaration of the outbreak on 4 September 2025, major progress has been achieved in detection, treatment, vaccination, and contact tracing. Monitoring of confirmed case contacts has risen sharply from 19% to over 90% within two weeks, with 943 contacts currently under follow-up in Bulape health zone, the epicentre of the outbreak. This rapid monitoring is crucial for early symptom detection, prompt isolation, and timely treatment.
In Bulape, a 34-bed treatment centre has been established, where 16 patients are currently receiving care. Clinical experts and therapeutics have been deployed to improve treatment outcomes, and the first two patients were successfully discharged on 15 September. Laboratory testing capacity has also been significantly strengthened. Samples can now be tested locally in Bulape with results available in 4–6 hours, compared to the previous delay of several days when they had to be sent to Kinshasa.
Vaccination is another key component of the response. To date, 523 frontline health workers and contacts in Bulape have been vaccinated. Six teams are leading the campaign, with an initial batch of 2000 doses already deployed out of 45,000 approved doses of the Ervebo vaccine. These efforts aim to reduce community transmission while protecting health workers, who are at high risk of exposure.
The World Health Organization (WHO), alongside partners such as Médecins Sans Frontières, UNICEF, ALIMA, and others, is working with DRC’s national health authorities to strengthen outbreak response. Logistics have been improved with supplies stockpiled closer to the epicentre, and a new airbridge established by the World Food Programme and UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO has cut transport time for medical supplies from several days to just hours.
As of 17 September, the outbreak has affected 14 localities in Bulape, reporting 48 cases—38 confirmed and 10 probable—and 31 deaths. No cases have been reported in other health zones of Kasai Province. According to WHO, intensifying disease surveillance, contact tracing, active case searching, and preparedness in surrounding areas is critical to prevent further spread.
Genomic analysis indicates that the outbreak is linked to a new zoonotic spill-over event, similar to the Ebola strain from 1976, rather than being connected to earlier outbreaks in Kasai Province in 2007 and 2008. Ebola remains a severe and often fatal disease, with case fatality rates ranging from 25% to 90%. However, early treatment and supportive care greatly increase survival chances, underscoring the importance of the swift, coordinated response now underway in the DRC.
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