Ebola Returning To Congo

A new Ebola virus outbreak has struck the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), alarming health authorities around the world and prompting an urgent international response. Officials have confirmed dozens of infections and deaths since early September, with fears that the situation could worsen if not contained quickly.

On September 4, 2025, the DRC Ministry of Health officially declared an Ebola outbreak in the Kasai Province, particularly in the Bulape and Mweka health zones. This marks the 16th recorded Ebola outbreak in the country’s history. The virus strain has been identified as Zaire ebolavirus, the most deadly of the known Ebola strains. Health officials report that the first identified patient was a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was hospitalized after developing fever, vomiting and severe weakness. She died five days later, and several of her close contacts soon developed symptoms.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of late September, there have been 48 confirmed and probable cases, including 31 deaths—a fatality rate exceeding 50 percent. New suspected cases have appeared in nearby health districts, including Mushenge and Dekese, raising concerns about a wider spread. Health workers are among those infected, further straining local medical resources. The country’s health ministry has warned that limited testing capacity and difficult terrain could mean the actual number of infections is higher than reported. The WHO, Africa CDC and DRC Ministry of Health have launched a coordinated emergency response. Ebola treatment centers are being established in the affected areas, and medical experts have been deployed to trace contacts and monitor symptoms.

Vaccination efforts are also underway. The Ervebo vaccine—developed for the Zaire strain—is being administered to frontline workers and contacts of infected individuals. Around 400 doses have been distributed in Bulape, with an additional 45,000 doses expected to arrive in the coming weeks. Despite these efforts, response teams face major challenges. The outbreak zone is remote and lacks reliable roads, making it difficult to transport patients, supplies and medical personnel. Community mistrust and misinformation about Ebola continue to hinder public health messaging. Public health experts warn that Ebola could spread beyond Kasai Province if containment measures fail. The region’s proximity to Angola and other neighboring countries raises the risk of cross-border transmission. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 travel advisory, urging travelers to avoid contact with sick individuals and monitor symptoms for 21 days after leaving the DRC.

The financial cost of containing the outbreak is also significant. The WHO estimates that approximately $45 million will be needed for medical supplies, personnel, and surveillance efforts. The DRC has experienced repeated Ebola outbreaks due to its tropical rainforests, which are believed to harbor animal reservoirs of the virus. Earlier this year, neighboring Uganda battled an outbreak caused by a different strain, the Sudan virus, which killed four people before being declared over in April.

Ebola is a viral hemorrhagic fever transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, and internal bleeding. Without prompt treatment, the disease is often fatal. As of early October, health officials are cautiously optimistic but remain vigilant. The WHO and partner organizations continue to expand vaccination and surveillance efforts to prevent the outbreak from spreading to densely populated areas.

“Every Ebola outbreak is a race against time,” said Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC. “We must act quickly to isolate cases, protect healthcare workers, and build community trust before the virus gets ahead of us.” For now, the global health community watches closely—hoping that early intervention will prevent the kind of devastating epidemics that struck West Africa a decade ago.

Extemp Analysis by: Lindsey Zhao

Q: Is the DRC ready for another outbreak of Ebola?

AGD: Probably go with a narrative here. Jokes would most likely be insensitive. 

B: explain the why behind the question (recent Ebola outbreak as mentioned above). Also explain what “ready” means (if they can fight it off quickly? Successfully? Permanently? You pick)

SS: would be nice to contextualize how dangerous it is, maybe bring in death rate of Ebola in the past 

A: Honestly, after doing more research into this, I think you could honestly answer both ways. There are reasons to be hopeful that this most recent epidemic can be contained (there’s actually a working vaccine this time, and this outbreak is in a remote region of DRC!), but also reasons why we should be more pessimistic. The more common answer will probably be the pessimistic approach, however, so let’s go with that. 

Real A: No, b/c of insufficient infrastructure 

1. Roads

   1. bad roads + remote province = not good

2. overburdened hospitals

   1. DRC is dealing with multiple outbreaks at the same time and they’re running out of emergency equipment

3. electricity grid

   1. DRC fighting has caused the electricity grid to fail pretty routinely, but vaccines need to be frozen…

Read more here:

• Relief Web, Corps

• News.AZ, World

• CNN, Hetter

• AP News, Alonga