KINSHASA, CONGO – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has officially confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in the southern Kasai province, marking the 16th time the country has faced the deadly virus since 1976. As of Thursday, September 4, 2025, health officials have reported 28 suspected cases and 15 fatalities, with a case fatality rate estimated at 53.6%. The current outbreak is affecting the Bulape and Mweka health zones.
According to media reports, The outbreak’s first identified patient was a pregnant woman admitted to a hospital in Bulape in late August. She died within a week, and the illness quickly spread to hospital staff and lab workers who had contact with her. The DRC’s health ministry announced that laboratory tests had confirmed the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus, prompting a heightened emergency response from the National Institute of Public Health.
Ebola is a severe, often fatal, viral illness. It is not an airborne disease; it spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids (blood, vomit, feces, etc.) of an infected person or animal. The virus can also be transmitted through contact with objects contaminated with these fluids.
As the disease progresses, it can lead to severe bleeding and multiple organ failure. The average fatality rate for Ebola is around 50%, though it has varied significantly in past outbreaks, ranging from 25% to 90%. ATP