The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is battling a new Ebola outbreak after health officials confirmed an infection in a 34-year-old pregnant woman in the southern Kasai province. The case raises the country’s suspected count to 28, with 15 deaths reported so far.
According to the Ministry of Health, the numbers remain provisional as investigations and testing are ongoing. The outbreak has been traced to the Bulape and Mweka areas, where patients are exhibiting classic Ebola symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and hemorrhaging.
Health teams are on the ground to boost surveillance, treatment, and infection prevention measures in health facilities. The United Nations health agency has also deployed experts to support national teams and announced the delivery of two tonnes of medical and laboratory supplies to strengthen the response.
Officials emphasized the need for urgent action to prevent the virus from spreading further. Drawing from previous experience in tackling viral outbreaks, the DRC is working closely with international health partners to scale up interventions. These measures include rapid testing, community awareness campaigns, safe burials, and the protection of frontline healthcare workers.
The current crisis marks the DRC’s 16th recorded Ebola outbreak. The last was declared in April 2022 in Equateur province and was brought under control within six weeks. Authorities are hoping to replicate that swift containment, although the situation in Kasai remains fragile.
Ebola was first identified in 1976 and has since triggered multiple deadly epidemics across Africa. The virus is believed to be carried by fruit bats and spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. With mortality rates reaching up to 90 percent in some outbreaks, the disease remains one of the deadliest pathogens known to humans.
As the DRC mobilizes to stop the spread, communities in Kasai are being urged to remain alert, practice safe hygiene, and cooperate with health workers. Efforts are focused on breaking chains of transmission quickly to protect vulnerable populations, including women and children, from further devastation.
