1 December 2025 — Kinshasa
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has officially declared the end of its 16th Ebola virus disease outbreak after going 42 days without a new case, following the discharge of the last patient on 19 October 2025.
Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, Dr. Samuel Roger Kamba, announced the declaration on Monday, confirming that all scientific and operational indicators show that the chain of transmission has been successfully broken.
The outbreak, which affected the Bulape Health Zone, a remote rural community with limited infrastructure, recorded 64 cases—53 confirmed and 11 probable—and 45 deaths.
Swift Response Credited for Containment
A rapid, coordinated effort by the Ministry of Health, with robust support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, played a decisive role in halting the spread of the virus within three months.
Over 112 WHO experts and frontline responders were deployed, while 150 tonnes of medical supplies and equipment were delivered to safeguard health workers and affected communities.
“This is a remarkable achievement,” said Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Authorities, health workers, partners and communities acted with speed and unity in one of the country’s hard-to-reach localities… WHO is proud to have supported the response and to leave behind stronger systems that will protect communities long after the outbreak has ended.”
Innovation and Vaccination Drive
For the first time in an Ebola outbreak response, WHO and partners deployed the Infectious Disease Treatment Module (IDTM)—an innovative facility designed to enhance patient care while boosting health worker protection.
Vaccination was also central to containment efforts. More than 47,500 people were vaccinated, beginning with contacts of confirmed cases and later expanding to surrounding communities.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, enabled the rapid deployment of over 48,000 doses from its global stockpile and supported cold-chain logistics, delivery operations, and prepositioning of vaccines in-country.
“The swift resolution of this outbreak shows what is possible when strong mechanisms exist to fight deadly vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Allyson Russell, Senior Programme Manager for Global Health Security at Gavi.
Strengthening Health Infrastructure
One major challenge during the outbreak was the lack of clean water supply at Bulape hospital. WHO and partners installed a piped water system for both clinical and community use, providing long-term public health benefits.
Reconstruction and rehabilitation of health facilities are ongoing to reinforce health system resilience in the region.
Post-Outbreak Vigilance Begins
Although the outbreak is over, the DRC has entered a 90-day enhanced disease surveillance period to guard against any potential flare-ups. Surveillance is transitioning from Ebola-specific monitoring to the broader Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system.
A survivor care programme—supported by WHO and partners—is providing ongoing medical, psychological, and social support to individuals who recovered from Ebola.
The Kasai Province had previously experienced outbreaks in 2007 and 2008. The Ebola virus disease, first identified in 1976, remains a severe and often fatal illness transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids.
