KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo (BN24) — A new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed at least 15 people in the central province of Kasai, health officials confirmed Thursday, marking the country’s 16th outbreak since the virus was first detected nearly five decades ago.
Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said the outbreak was first identified on August 20 after a 34-year-old pregnant woman was admitted to a local hospital with symptoms consistent with the virus. Since then, 28 suspected cases have been reported in the region.
The confirmation raises new concerns as the DRC continues to grapple with infrastructure challenges that threaten to complicate containment efforts. While the outbreak has not yet reached urban centers, limited transportation networks and communication barriers could hinder timely medical response and vaccine distribution.
Kamba said the outbreak has been linked to the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus, the most lethal variant and the same strain responsible for previous deadly outbreaks. A vaccine is available and has proven effective in past responses, but officials warn that logistical hurdles may delay its rollout in affected areas.
The last confirmed Ebola outbreak in the DRC occurred in 2022, resulting in six deaths. The country’s deadliest episode between 2018 and 2020 claimed nearly 2,300 lives, largely in the eastern provinces. Ebola was first identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the DRC and is believed to originate from fruit bats. The virus spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals and often leads to severe internal bleeding and organ failure.
Despite international support and the availability of medical tools, the DRC’s vast geography—nearly four times the size of France—and underdeveloped infrastructure continue to pose a significant challenge to public health interventions.
As response teams mobilize, authorities urge heightened surveillance, public awareness, and rapid deployment of medical resources to stem the spread of the virus in the densely forested province.
