Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in central Kasai province, which has killed 15 people since late August. The announcement was made on Thursday, September 4, by the country’s Health Minister, Samuel Roger Kamba, in Kinshasa.

 

According to Kamba, the outbreak, the 16th recorded in the DRC, was first detected on August 20 in a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to hospital. Since then, 28 suspected cases have been identified.

 

The last Ebola outbreak in the DRC occurred three years ago, claiming six lives. The deadliest, recorded between 2018 and 2020, left nearly 2,300 people dead. Ebola, first discovered in 1976 and believed to originate from bats, is transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids and often leads to severe bleeding, organ failure, and death.

 

Authorities confirmed the current outbreak is linked to the Zaire strain of the virus, for which a vaccine exists. However, Kamba cautioned that logistical difficulties, including poor infrastructure and limited communication networks in the vast country, nearly four times the size of France, may hinder effective vaccine deployment and containment efforts.

 

The latest outbreak once again highlights the DRC’s vulnerability to recurring epidemics and the urgent need for swift international support to prevent further spread.