By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has officially declared the end of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai Province, after going 42 consecutive days without reporting a new infection.
The declaration was made by the Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, Dr. Samuel Roger Kamba, following the discharge of the last patient from a treatment centre on 19 October 2025.
“Taking into account all scientific and operational indicators confirming that the chain of transmission has been broken, I hereby officially declare the end of the 16th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” the minister announced.
Three-Month Response Contained the Outbreak
The outbreak, which affected Bulape Health Zone, a remote community with limited road and communication infrastructure, resulted in 64 cases (53 confirmed and 11 probable) and 45 deaths.
A rapid, joint response led by the Ministry of Health, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners,
was credited with halting the spread of the virus. In total, 112 WHO experts and frontline responders were deployed, and more than 150 tonnes of medical supplies were delivered to protect health workers and support patient care.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, praised the speed and coordination of the response.
“Controlling and ending this Ebola outbreak in three months is a remarkable achievement. National authorities, frontline workers, partners and communities acted with unity in one of the country’s hard-to-reach areas,” he said.
“WHO is proud to have supported the response and to leave behind stronger systems that will protect communities long after the outbreak has ended.”
Innovative Care and Mass Vaccination Efforts
For the first time in an Ebola outbreak, responders deployed an Infectious Disease Treatment Module (IDTM), a new type of treatment facility jointly developed by WHO, the World Food Programme and other partners. The module improved patient experience while enhancing health worker safety.
To curb transmission, more than 47,500 people were vaccinated. Vaccination initially targeted contacts of confirmed cases but later expanded to neighbouring communities.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, facilitated the rapid deployment of over 48,000 vaccine doses from the global stockpile and supported cold chain logistics, transportation, and delivery.
Allyson Russell, Senior Programme Manager, Global Health Security at Gavi, said:
“The swift resolution of this outbreak shows what is possible when strong mechanisms are in place to fight deadly diseases. With vaccines from the Gavi-funded stockpile and timely delivery support, DRC has demonstrated that Ebola outbreaks can be rapidly contained.”
Strengthening Health Systems for the Future
During the response, WHO and partners addressed a major challenge: the lack of clean water at Bulape Hospital. A new piped water system was installed for clinical use and community access, an improvement that will remain long after the outbreak.
Reconstruction and rehabilitation work is also ongoing across health facilities to strengthen long-term resilience.
Ebola, first identified in the DRC in 1976, remains a severe and often fatal disease transmitted through direct contact with infected body fluids or contaminated surfaces.
Next Steps: 90 Days of Enhanced Surveillance
With the outbreak officially over, the country is entering a 90-day period of heightened surveillance to quickly detect any flare-ups. Efforts are shifting from Ebola-specific surveillance to the broader Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system.
A survivor care programme, supported by WHO and partners, will continue providing holistic post-recovery support for Ebola survivors.
This marks DRC’s 16th Ebola outbreak, and the third recorded in Kasai Province since 2007.
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