Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo kills 15, health ministry says
Health ministry reports 28 suspected cases in Kasai province; Zaire strain identified and four health workers among the dead
The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded at least 15 deaths in a new Ebola outbreak in Kasai province, the country's health ministry said, with 28 suspected cases under investigation and the Zaire strain of the virus identified.
The ministry said the outbreak follows the confirmation of Ebola in a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to hospital last month with high fever and repeated vomiting and died several hours later of multiple organ failure. Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba said Thursday that provisional figures show 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including 14 in Boulapé and one in Mweka, and that four of the dead were health workers. He said the estimated case fatality rate was 53.6 percent and that research and case tracing were ongoing.
The World Health Organization said it was "acting with determination to rapidly halt the spread of the virus and protect communities." WHO officials warned that case numbers are likely to increase as transmission continues. The ministry and international partners have urged strict preventive measures in high-risk areas, including frequent handwashing and social distancing, and have emphasized caution among caregivers and health personnel because Ebola is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids.
Symptoms reported among the suspected cases have included fever, vomiting, diarrhea and hemorrhage. Laboratory testing identified the virus as the Zaire strain, a form of Ebola known for high mortality in past outbreaks. The ministry said four health workers were among the fatalities, underscoring the risks faced by frontline staff caring for suspected cases.
This is the 16th recorded Ebola outbreak in the DRC, a country that has experienced repeated flare-ups amid persistent challenges in its health system and ongoing security issues, particularly in the east. Previous outbreaks have prompted international emergency responses, including vaccination campaigns, case isolation, contact tracing and community engagement to reduce transmission.
Health authorities said the figures released are provisional and subject to change as investigations continue and additional laboratory results are returned. Local and international teams are working to identify contacts, expand testing, provide care to confirmed cases and implement infection prevention and control measures in health facilities.
Ebola is a rare but severe disease in humans. It spreads through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids of infected people or animals and can be transmitted via contaminated surfaces and materials. Public health responses to outbreaks typically focus on rapid detection, isolation of cases, safe management of bodies, vaccination of contacts where available, and community outreach to limit spread.
Authorities appealed to residents in affected areas to report symptoms promptly and to follow guidance from health workers. The unfolding outbreak highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in the region's capacity to detect and respond to infectious disease threats, officials said, and international agencies have signaled readiness to support the response as investigations proceed.