Ebola cases surge in Congo Kasai province outbreak

The number of suspected Ebola cases in Congo’s southern Kasai province has more than doubled in a week, rising from 28 to 68, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The outbreak, confirmed a week ago, has spread from two to four districts and has already claimed 16 lives. It is the first Ebola outbreak in Congo in three years and the first in Kasai province in over a decade, following the confirmation of infection in a pregnant woman in the district of Bulapé.

Kasai is a remote region with poor road networks, located more than 1,000 kilometers from the nation’s capital, Kinshasa. The proximity and density of villages make the disease capable of spreading rapidly, and fighting in eastern Congo could further complicate containment efforts. Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, a principal advisor with Africa CDC, warned of the challenges in controlling the outbreak.

The World Health Organization has deployed experts to work alongside Congo’s Rapid Response Team in Kasai. Their mission is to strengthen disease surveillance, provide treatment, and monitor infection‑prevention and control measures. Congo has a long history of Ebola epidemics; this is the country’s 16th outbreak overall and the seventh in Kasai province. A previous outbreak in eastern Congo from 2018 to 2020 killed more than 1,000 people.

Local authorities in Kasai are taking steps to limit the spread. Public movements have been curtailed, and checkpoints have been set up at the main entrances to Tshikapa, the provincial capital. Residents have expressed concern about the impact on daily life. Emmanuel Kalonji noted that some people fled their villages only to return, highlighting the limited resources available. Conversely, Ethienne Makashi, the local official responsible for water, hygiene, and sanitation in Bulapé, reported that one patient is showing good progress, offering hope to those receiving care.

The situation in Kasai remains worrisome, with the outbreak’s expansion and the difficulties in containing it. The international community, including the WHO, continues to work with local authorities to provide support, enhance surveillance, deliver treatment, and enforce infection‑prevention measures to prevent further spread.