Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have reported the full recovery and discharge of the first two Ebola patients treated in the Bulape health zone of Kasai Province.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa shared this update on its X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, highlighting it as a crucial milestone in the ongoing efforts to control the Ebola outbreak that reemerged in the area earlier this month.
WHO attributed these successful recoveries to enhanced clinical care protocols and swift response initiatives implemented over the past week.
These measures were orchestrated by the DRC Ministry of Health, with vital assistance from WHO, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), ALIMA, and other humanitarian organizations operating locally.
In a statement, WHO noted, “@MinSanteRDC, supported by @WHO, @MSF, @ALIMA_ORG, and partners, has intensified response activities to elevate clinical care quality in recent days. Effective containment strategies are underway to halt virus transmission, save lives, and bring the outbreak to a rapid conclusion.”
The Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai Province was officially declared by DRC health officials on September 4.
This health crisis compounds the existing complex emergencies in Central and West Africa, which include cholera epidemics, widespread malnutrition, and population displacement.
The previous Ebola outbreak in the DRC occurred in April 2022 within Equateur Province in the northwest and was successfully contained within three months.
Kasai Province has a history of Ebola outbreaks, with previous incidents recorded in 2007 and 2008. Since the virus was first identified in 1976, the DRC has experienced a total of 15 outbreaks.
Ebola virus disease is a rare but highly lethal illness in humans, transmitted through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected animals, especially fruit bats, which are considered the natural reservoir.
Transmission between humans happens via direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected individuals-whether living or deceased-or through exposure to contaminated materials and surfaces.
As of September 4, 2025, WHO reported 28 suspected Ebola cases, including 15 fatalities, resulting in a case fatality rate of 54 percent. These cases were identified in three locations within the Bulape health zone-Bulape, Bulape Com, and Dikolo-as well as in the Mweka health zone.
Among the deceased were four healthcare workers, and approximately 80 percent of suspected cases involved individuals aged 15 years and older.
In response, WHO confirmed the delivery of an initial batch of 400 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine to Bulape, sourced from a reserve of 2,000 doses pre-positioned in Kinshasa, the capital city.
Further vaccine shipments are anticipated to reach other affected areas shortly, bolstering efforts to contain the outbreak.
