The Democratic Republic of the Congo is witnessing a decline in the spread of the Ebola virus, with cases reported over the past three weeks showing early signs of a downward trend. According to the latest update, seven cases, including six confirmed and one probable, were reported from Bulape Health Zone in Kasai Province in the week ending on 28 September 2025. This represents a decline compared to the previous week, when 11 confirmed cases were reported. As of 1 October, no new cases have been reported, and the cumulative total stands at 64 cases, including 53 confirmed and 11 probable, with 42 deaths.
The Ebola outbreak response efforts have been strengthened over the past three weeks, with significant progress made in monitoring contacts, enhancing clinical care, and bolstering infection prevention and control measures. As of 1 October, 97% of the over 1,000 contacts listed were being monitored, and an increasing number of alerts are being received and promptly investigated. The treatment centre in Bulape health zone has been expanded to a 44-bed capacity facility, and community engagement has also been enhanced.
Vaccination efforts are also underway, with over 8,000 frontline health workers, contacts of confirmed cases, and their contacts having been vaccinated. A new vaccination strategy aims to administer 18,000 doses in 19 localities in Bulape to protect populations at risk and help halt the spread of the virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other partner organizations, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, and Médecins Sans Frontières, are working closely with the government to ensure swift and effective outbreak control.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, has emphasized the need to sustain and intensify life-saving measures, stating that every day without a case and every recovered patient moves the region closer to ending the outbreak. Continued efforts remain crucial to enhancing response operations in hotspots and sustaining progress. Additional financial resources are also needed to further bolster the response, with a Regional Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan requiring around $66.6 million to contribute to the National Response Plan.
The response plan aims to strengthen preparedness capacities and build long-term resilience in the health system, particularly in areas such as water and sanitation, cold-chain facilities, laboratory capacity, and human resources. With the outbreak remaining localized in Bulape, the international community is closely monitoring the situation, and the significance of the progress made so far cannot be overstated. The next steps will be critical in determining the outcome of the outbreak, and the international community will be watching closely to see how the situation unfolds.
