Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have confirmed a new outbreak of Ebola in the central Kasai province, with 15 deaths reported since late August, according to Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba.
Speaking in Kinshasa on Thursday, September 4, Kamba said the outbreak—the country’s 16th—was first detected on August 20 in a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was hospitalized with symptoms. Since then, 28 suspected cases have been recorded.
This marks the first Ebola outbreak in the DRC in three years. The previous one resulted in six fatalities, while the deadliest, between 2018 and 2020, claimed nearly 2,300 lives.
The current outbreak has been identified as caused by the Zaire strain of the virus, for which a vaccine is available. However, Kamba warned that logistical difficulties could hinder vaccination efforts.
“Although we have access to the vaccine, challenges related to infrastructure, transportation, and communication—especially in remote areas—pose serious obstacles to effective containment,” he said.
Ebola, first identified in 1976, is a highly contagious viral disease believed to originate from bats. It spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids and can lead to severe internal bleeding and organ failure.
Efforts are underway to mobilize health workers and resources, but authorities caution that the country’s vast size—four times that of France—and underdeveloped infrastructure remain significant barriers to outbreak response.
