On 1 December 2025, the DRC government officially announced the end of the 16th Ebola outbreak in the country, after no new cases were reported for 42 consecutive days following the discharge of the last patient on 19 October 2025. The outbreak — centred in the rural Bulape Health Zone, Kasai Province — had begun on 4 September 2025.
Over the course of the outbreak, health officials recorded a total of 64 cases (53 confirmed, 11 probable) and 45 deaths, yielding a high case-fatality rate of around 70%. Among the infections were several healthcare workers, underscoring the risks even to those on the frontline.
The response to the outbreak was rapid and coordinated. The national health authorities, with the backing of the World Health Organization (WHO), mobilized hundreds of health workers and delivered more than 150 tonnes of medical supplies and protective equipment to contain the spread. In addition, an innovative treatment facility — the Infectious Disease Treatment Module (IDTM) — was deployed for the first time in the DRC, enabling safer, more dignified and effective care for patients.
Vaccination also played a critical role: tens of thousands of people — including contacts of confirmed cases and frontline health workers — received Ebola vaccines from global stockpiles, significantly bolstering containment efforts.
While the outbreak is officially declared over, authorities have stressed that vigilance must continue. A 90-day period of enhanced surveillance will be implemented to quickly identify any resurgence. Health experts also called for continued investments in water, sanitation, safe-burial practices, and community engagement to strengthen long-term resilience against future outbreaks.
The declaration marks another milestone in the DRC’s long history of battling Ebola — the 16th outbreak since the virus was first identified there in 1976. It underscores both the fragility of health systems in remote regions and the progress possible through coordinated national and international action.
As the country transitions away from emergency response mode, public health officials emphasize the dual challenge ahead: ensuring surveillance remains strong, while rebuilding trust and services in affected communities — a foundation essential to prevent future outbreaks.
