Ebola outbreak in DRC

An Ebola vaccination campaign has been launched in the Bulape region of central Democratic Republic of Congo to contain a new outbreak. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently experiencing its 16th Ebola outbreak, which was reported in early September 2025. The outbreak is concentrated in Kasai Province, particularly in the Bulape and Mweka health zones. It began with a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to the Bulape hospital on August 20 and later died. Since then, 81 confirmed cases have been reported, including 28 deaths, including four healthcare workers who contracted the virus while providing patient care. Many suspected and confirmed cases exhibit typical Ebola symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa CDC are actively supporting the response by deploying experts, providing medical and laboratory equipment, and improving disease surveillance, treatment, and infection control. The outbreak involves the Zaire Ebola virus strain, which is known for its high mortality. According to recent data, the case fatality rate is between 23.5% and 54%. Contact tracing and vaccination efforts are underway. Frontline healthcare workers are receiving vaccines, and some treatments such as monoclonal antibodies are being used in the affected areas. This outbreak has experienced a new zoonotic spillover, meaning the virus likely jumped from animals (possibly bats) to humans and does not represent a continuation of previous outbreaks in the region. The outbreak is considered severe due to high transmission risks, including unsafe burial practices that may have exacerbated the spread. The outbreak area is difficult to access, complicating rapid response efforts. @https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/4/dr-congo-announces-new-ebola-outbreak @https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/ebola/suspected-cases-dr-congo-ebola-outbreak-rise-68 @https://africacdc.org/news-item/new-ebola-outbreak-confirmed-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo/ @https://theconversation.com/theres-a-new-outbreak-of-ebola-in-africa-heres-what-you-need-to-know-264896 @https://www.statnews.com/2025/09/11/ebola-drc-kasai-outbreak-us-global-health-who-usaid/