The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has declared a new outbreak of the Ebola virus, marking the country’s first reported cases since 2022.
The announcement was made on Thursday, September 4, 2025, following the confirmation of 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths.
According to the Ministry of Health, laboratory tests conducted on Wednesday, September 3 confirmed the presence of the Zaire strain of the virus — the most lethal variant. The outbreak was first detected after a 34-year-old pregnant woman was admitted to a hospital in Kasai province on August 20, exhibiting symptoms such as high fever and vomiting. Authorities did not confirm whether she survived.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the number of cases is expected to rise, as community transmission is ongoing.
Ebola is a highly infectious and often fatal disease, spread through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or tissues of infected individuals or animals. The DRC has experienced more than a dozen Ebola outbreaks, including the devastating 2018–2020 epidemic, which claimed nearly 2,300 lives.
In response to the current outbreak, the WHO confirmed that the DRC has access to a stockpile of Ebola treatments and 2,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, which will be deployed to Kasai province. The initial vaccination campaign will target contacts of confirmed cases and frontline health workers.
To support the response effort, the WHO will also deliver two tons of emergency supplies, including mobile laboratory equipment and essential medical materials, to help contain the outbreak.
Health officials are urging the public to remain vigilant and to follow prevention measures as teams work to trace contacts and limit the spread of the virus.
 has declared a new outbreak of the Ebola virus, marking the country's first reported cases since 2022.){kind=link}