Kasai Province, DRC | September 10, 2025
The Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Kasai Province, with at least 28 suspected and confirmed cases and 15 deaths, including four healthcare workers, health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) announced this week.
The outbreak, declared on 4 September 2025, began after a 34-year-old pregnant woman died on August 25 with symptoms consistent with Ebola. Laboratory testing confirmed the Zaire ebolavirus strain, the same species responsible for the 2014 West African epidemic. WHO has emphasized that the current event represents a new zoonotic spillover rather than a continuation of earlier outbreaks.
International and national response teams, including the DRC Ministry of Health, Africa CDC, and WHO, have deployed surveillance, mobile laboratories, and infection control measures. Around 2,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine are being prepared for ring vaccination targeting contacts and frontline workers. WHO has assessed the public health risk as high nationally, moderate regionally, and low globally.
In Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed there are no Ebola cases but announced that it has reactivated its preparedness plan. This includes border surveillance, hospital infection control protocols, and public communication campaigns urging vigilance while cautioning against misinformation and unproven remedies.
Health experts stress that early reporting, strict hygiene, and trusted medical guidance remain the most effective tools for preventing further spread.
