DRC - Viral hemorrhagic fever cases, deaths (including health workers) in Bulape, Kasai province - August 20, 2025 - Ebola Zaire confirmed - Outbreak declared over on December 01, 2025

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After Ebola, a new beginning: in Bulape, the Cured Program gives hope to Héritier

November 17, 2025

Bulape, DRC – In Bulape, in the heart of a community scarred by the Ebola epidemic, 25-year-old Héritier Bope Mpona is working to rebuild his life. A market vendor, he mainly sold beans to support his family.

At the start of the outbreak, his two-year-old daughter and his mother were the first victims. Shortly after, he and his wife developed the same symptoms. Testing positive, they were taken to the Ebola Treatment Center (ETC) for three weeks of treatment. Héritier survived, but his wife was not so fortunate.

Simply put, he sums up his experience: "I came out alive, but I came out alone," he confides.

Upon leaving the CTE, the house is empty. The neighbors are still hesitant to approach. Without immediate income, Héritier must find a new balance.

To address these needs, the Ebola Survivors Program was established by the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO). This program supports the 18 Ebola survivors in Bulape, providing them with medical follow-up, psychosocial support, and assistance with social and economic reintegration.

Since the beginning of the response, the WHO has been providing technical and operational support to the Ministry for the implementation of the Program. This support includes the deployment of five experts to strengthen post-Ebola care, clinical monitoring, mental health, and community support.

The WHO coordinated the training of 15 healthcare providers, supplied essential medicines, consultation kits, personal protective equipment, and the necessary tools for clinical and psychosocial follow-up. Other partners are gradually joining these efforts to ensure the continuity of the program and the sustainable reintegration of survivors.

From the very first hours of the response, the WHO mobilized alongside the National Institute of Public Health to rapidly establish follow-up care for those who had recovered, according to Dr. Richard Kitenge, National Coordinator of the Ebola Recovered Persons Care and Follow-up Program and Incident Manager for this epidemic. This effort is part of a collaborative approach with the World Food Programme (WFP), which is distributing dry food to those who have recovered, and UNICEF, which has deployed a staff member to the field to strengthen local capacities. "This multi-partner support is essential to ensure continuity of follow-up, promote the reintegration of survivors, and guarantee lasting health stability in the area," he emphasizes.

To underline the importance of this work, Dr. Brys Busanga Shibari, head of the WHO's Ebola Recovered Programme, reminds us: "Surviving Ebola does not mark the end of the story. It is the beginning of a rebuilding process. No survivor should have to face this alone," he affirms.

At the clinic for those who have recovered, Héritier comes once a month for his follow-up appointment. The teams check his general condition, his vision, his sleep, and his pain, but above all, they take the time to talk to him. For him, this moment is important: "Here, I'm not just a patient. They listen to me and help me regain my confidence," he says.

Among the trained professionals, Thérèse Mboli, a clinical psychologist, regularly accompanies him. She sees her role as essential for the recovery:

"After Ebola, it is also necessary to treat what is not visible: fatigue, fear, sadness. My job is to be present and to move forward at his pace," she explains.

To complement this support, the Chief Medical Officer of the area, Dr. Jean Paul Mbantshi Beya, emphasizes the social dimension of healing: "Being healed is not enough. You have to be able to take your place again and feel surrounded. That is also part of healing," he stresses.

In Bulape, resuming life after Ebola is becoming a reality thanks to continuity of care, regular follow-up, psychosocial support, and assistance for survivors in their reintegration. This collective effort aims to restore the confidence, dignity, and autonomy of each survivor.

Héritier has not yet resumed his business at the market, but he now knows he can count on support. "Ebola turned my life upside down, but it didn't change who I am. Today, I am regaining confidence. Slowly but surely," he says.


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https://www.afro.who.int/fr/countries/democratic-republic-of-congo/news/apres-ebola-revivre-bulape-le-programme-des-gueris-redonne-espoir-heritier

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Democratic Republic of the Congo declares end of 16th Ebola outbreak

01 December 2025

Kinshasa—The Democratic Republic of the Congo today declared the end of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai Province, after no new cases were reported in the past 42 days since the last patient was discharged from treatment centre on 19 October 2025.

“On behalf of the government— and taking into account all the scientific and operational indicators confirming that the chain of transmission of the virus has been broken—I hereby officially declare the end of the 16th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” said Dr Samuel Roger Kamba, Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare.

The rapid and coordinated response by the Ministry of Health, with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, was pivotal in halting the spread of the virus which affected Bulape Health Zone, a rural community with limited road and telecommunication infrastructure. In total, 64 cases (53 confirmed, 11 probable) and 45 deaths were recorded in the outbreak.

A total of 112 WHO experts and frontline responders were deployed to support the national authorities to swiftly scale up and sustain the response, and over 150 tonnes of medical supplies and equipment were delivered to protect health workers and communities.

“Controlling and ending this Ebola outbreak in three months is a remarkable achievement. National authorities, frontline health workers, partners and communities acted with speed and unity in one of the country’s hard-to-reach localities,” said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “WHO is proud to have supported the response and to leave behind stronger systems, from clean water to safer care, that will protect communities long after the outbreak has ended.”

For the first time in an outbreak, an innovative treatment facility known as the Infectious Disease Treatment Module (IDTM) was set up to bolster safer and more patient-friendly care. The module - developed by WHO, the World Food Programme and other partners—was designed to better protect health workers while enabling more dignified and effective care for patients.

To protect communities and health workers, more than 47 500 people were vaccinated against Ebola, with vaccination initially targeting contacts of people confirmed with the virus and later expanded to communities in and around Bulape.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, played a key role in supporting the response by enabling the swift deployment of over 48 000 vaccine doses from the Gavi-funded global stockpile. The support also enabled the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision to preposition doses and maintain a small stock in the country and, in partnership with WHO and the Ministry of Health, provided delivery funding for vaccine activities and essential cold chain and logistical support.

“The swift resolution to this Ebola outbreak is a testament to the dedication of healthcare workers, the Ministry of Health, partners and communities—and to what is possible when mechanisms are in place to fight deadly vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Allyson Russell, Senior Programme Manager, Global Health Security at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “With vaccines from the global Gavi-funded stockpile and timely delivery support, coupled with other critical interventions such as surveillance, contact tracing, isolation and case management, our colleagues in the DRC have demonstrated that it is now possible to rapidly bring Ebola outbreaks like this one under control, dramatically reducing cases, long-term disabilities and deaths. Gavi remains committed to the fight against Ebola by maintaining the global stockpile and through continued support for preventive vaccination for frontline health workers in at-risk countries.”

Among the response challenges was the lack of reliable clean water supply to Bulape hospital for clinical use. WHO and partners set up a piped water system to the hospital as well as public taps, which will continue providing clean water to the community in the years to come. Additionally, reconstruction and rehabilitation work continues at the hospital and other facilities to bolster long-term health system resilience.

The outbreak was the country’s 16th since the disease was identified in 1976. Previous outbreaks in Kasai Province were in 2007 and 2008.

Ebola virus disease is a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans. Human-to-human transmission is through direct contact with blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola, or objects and surfaces contaminated with body fluids from a person sick with Ebola or the body of a person who died from Ebola.

With the outbreak declared over, efforts are now shifting from Ebola-specific surveillance to the broader Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response system. WHO continues to work closely with national and provincial authorities to maintain vigilance and ensure preparedness, rapid and effective response in case of any flare-ups.

The country now begins a 90-day period of enhanced disease surveillance. As part of the sustained vigilance, a survivor care programme established with support from WHO and partners is helping to provide holistic post-recovery support for Ebola survivors.

https://www.afro.who.int/countries/democratic-republic-of-congo/news/democratic-republic-congo-declares-end-of16thebola-outbreak

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Source: https://www.who.int/emergencies/dise...c-of-the-congo
Ebola virus disease - Democratic Republic of the Congo

1 December 2025



Situation at a glance

On 1 December 2025, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared the end of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak which had been declared on 4 September 2025. The end was declared after two consecutive incubation periods (a total of 42 days) since the last person confirmed with EVD tested negative for the virus and was discharged on 19 October 2025. A total of 64 cases (53 confirmed, 11 probable), including 45 deaths (CFR 70.3%), were reported from six health areas in Bulape Health Zone, Kasai Province. WHO and partners provided technical, operational and financial support to the government to contain the outbreak. This is the country’s 16th outbreak of Ebola. Although the outbreak has been declared over, health authorities are maintaining surveillance to rapidly identify and respond to any re-emergence. Risk communication and community engagement activities will continue to provide accurate information, monitor and address community feedback and rumours, and support efforts to reduce stigma toward individuals affected by the outbreak.

Description of the situation

The EVD outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was declared on 4 September 2025. As of 30 November 2025, a total of 64 cases (53 confirmed, 11 probable), including 45 deaths (CFR 70.3%), have been reported from six health areas (Bambalaie, Bulape, Bulape Com, Dikolo, Ingongo and Mpianga) in Bulape Health Zone, Kasai Province. Since the last confirmed case reported on 25 September 2025, no new confirmed EVD cases have been reported.
There have been five cases among health workers (four nurses and one laboratory technician), three of whom have died. The epicentres of the outbreak have been localised in Dikolo (26 cases, 15 deaths) and Bulape (24 cases, 22 deaths) health areas, which together account for 78.1% of the total cases reported and 82.2% of all deaths. The outbreak initially involved nosocomial transmission and a high-transmission funeral gathering, with high mortality among young children. As of 12 October 2025, a total of 572 contacts were followed up.
On 1 December 2025, the Ministry of Health declared the end of the outbreak. This declaration came after two consecutive incubation periods (42 days) since the last person confirmed with EVD tested negative for the virus and was discharged on 19 October 2025, as per WHO recommendations.
Figure 1. Map of confirmed and probable cases and deaths of Ebola virus disease, Bulape Health Zone, Kasai province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, as of 30 November 2025

Figure 2: Epidemic curve of confirmed and probable Ebola virus disease cases in Bulape Health Zone, Kasai province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, as of 30 November 2025



Epidemiology

Ebola virus disease is a severe disease caused by the Ebola virus (EBOV). The virus is transmitted to humans through close contact with the blood or secretions of infected wildlife and then spreads through human-to-human transmission by direct contact with bodily fluids, organs, or contaminated surfaces and materials.
The incubation period, the time between infection with the virus and the onset of symptoms, ranges from 2 to 21 days, but typically is 7–11 days. People are not infectious during the incubation period; they become contagious with early symptoms; therefore, transmission risk begins at the onset of clinical signs and increases with disease severity.
Case fatality ratios ranging from 25% to 90% have been reported in previous outbreaks. The disease is characterized by an acute onset of fever with non-specific symptoms/signs (e.g., abdominal pain, anorexia, fatigue, malaise, myalgia, sore throat) usually followed several days later by nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and occasionally a variable rash. Severe illness may include haemorrhagic manifestations (e.g., bleeding), encephalopathy, shock/hypotension, multi-organ failure, and spontaneous abortion in infected pregnant women. Individuals who recover may experience prolonged sequelae (e.g., arthralgia, neurocognitive dysfunction, uveitis, sometimes followed by cataract formation), and clinical and subclinical persistent infection may occur in immune-privileged compartments (e.g., central nervous system, eyes, testes). Family members, health and care providers, and participants in burial ceremonies with direct contact with the deceased are at particular risk.

Public health response

Health authorities, with support from WHO and partners, implemented public health measures, including but not limited to the following:
Coordination

• The Ministry of Health (MoH) coordinated the outbreak response with WHO and partners, while the Incident Management Team in Bulape Health Zone oversaw field operations.
• A high-level national delegation led by the Minister of Health visited Kasai Province to assess response activities, reaffirm government commitment, and inaugurate a newly constructed Ebola Treatment Centre.
• WHO deployed 112 experts and frontline responders to support the national authorities to swiftly scale up and sustain the response.
• A regional strategic preparedness and response plan was developed and disseminated to guide efforts in surveillance, case management, diagnostics, vaccination, IPC, community engagement, and operational readiness.
• WHO launched a US$21 million appeal to scale up response operations, supported by contributions from partners.

Surveillance

• Surveillance activities were scaled up in Bulape and nearby areas, and more than 100 alerts were investigated.
• Community health workers were trained to support community-based surveillance using simplified case definitions.
• Congolese Red Cross volunteers were engaged in reporting community deaths and supporting surveillance efforts, while mortality surveillance was initiated in health facilities
• Surveillance, health screening and risk communication were reinforced at points of entry and points of control, including border crossings, with sensitization of staff at points of entry to detect and manage suspected cases.
• Border communities were integrated into early warning systems and the national surveillance network.
• WHO deployed epidemiologists in Bulape and supports the 90-day heightened surveillance period following the declaration of the end of the outbreak.

Laboratory

• MoH and partners strengthened laboratory capacities and deployed a mobile laboratory to reduce turnaround time for laboratory results.
• MoH performed full genome sequencing on the sample of the first confirmed case and findings indicate the outbreak was most likely the result of a spillover event from a zoonotic reservoir.

Case management

• MoH, with support from WHO and partners, set up an Ebola treatment centre in Bulape
• Case management strategy was scaled up to ensure sufficient capacities to provide care for all probable and confirmed cases in all hotspots.
• Surge teams and partners supported clinical care. Patients received monoclonal antibody treatment.
• WHO experts supported case management, essential health services, and survivor program implementation.

Vaccination

• A total of 47 577 individuals were vaccinated with the rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP (Ervebo) Ebola vaccine in Bulape, Bulambae, and Mweka Health Zones.
• A ring vaccination strategy implemented, targeting contacts, potential contacts, and high-risk healthcare/frontline workers, complemented by geographic targeting in hotspots.
• Ultra cold chain equipment installed in Kananga, Mweka and Tshikapa to support vaccine storage and distribution.

Infection prevention and control

• Infection prevention and control (IPC) response coordination mechanism activated, including the IPC ring around cases, which included cleaning and disinfection of sites where confirmed cases passed through.
• Recommendations provided to health workers, district leaders, and the public to strengthen detection of suspected cases and implement appropriate IPC measures.
• Supervision and support provided to Bulape General Hospital, Ebola treatment centre , and four health centres.

Risk Communication and Community Engagement

• An integrated community engagement approach was implemented, enabling the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) team to work alongside other response pillars to facilitate safe access to affected communities and strengthen acceptance of response activities such as community surveillance, contact tracing and vaccination.
• Tailored risk communication messages were developed and disseminated widely, promoting protective behaviours and timely care- seeking, while sustained and evolving engagement with religious leaders, teachers, traditional healers and other trusted influencers helped build trust and community cooperation.
• WHO provided technical guidance and on the ground expertise to conduct a rapid community assessment to better understand the knowledge, perceptions, experiences, needs and bottom-up solutions of local communities affected by the EVD outbreak. These findings are being used to inform appropriate and localized public health measures for community protection. Community health volunteers were trained and supported, expanding local capacity for community outreach and engagement.

Operations Support and Logistics

• • WHO and partners established a temporary airbridge to accelerate delivery of supplies and personnel to affected areas.
  • WHO delivered over 150 tonnes of medical supplies and equipment to protect health workers and communities. Additional logistics include an epi-shuttle, generator, motorbikes, mattresses, and food for patients.
  • The coordination with partners enabled rapid access to remote health zones.

Preparedness and readiness

• Eight of nine neighbouring countries completed readiness assessments
• DRC’s high-risk provinces were supported in planning.
• Capacity building conducted on readiness in five health zones

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment

• Prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PRSEAH) integrated into response activities through responder briefings, community sensitization, and risk analysis.
• Individuals from three churches and responders/community members were oriented on PRSEAH and reporting mechanisms.
• PRSEAH focal points identified in collaboration with the Bulape Health Zone authorities.
• Posters with PRSEAH principles and reporting information were displayed in health centres and offices.

WHO risk assessment

The current outbreak constitutes the 16^th Ebola disease occurrence in the DRC since 1976. The last outbreak was reported from North Kivu in 2022.
This outbreak occurred in difficult, hard to reach areas with limited existing infrastructure. A future outbreak is not unexpected given that EVD is endemic in the country. Ebola virus is enzootic and a resurgence from viral persistence in survivors has been described in recent epidemics. Re-emergence of EVD is a major public health concern in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; gaps remain in the country's capacity to recover, prepare for, and respond to outbreaks. The country is facing several outbreaks, including mpox, cholera, and measles. In addition, the country is experiencing a long-term economic and political crisis. The country's resources and capacity to effectively respond to the outbreak were therefore limited.
The epicentre of the outbreak was in proximity with the Angolan border (approximately 100 to 200 kilometres, depending on the nearest border crossing point). Although the affected district is a hard-to-reach rural area relatively far from the two main urban centres of Mbuji Mayi and Kananga, population movements between different parts of the province are frequent, especially between Bulape and Tshikapa.
The outbreak has most likely originated from a new zoonotic spillover and led to sustained human-to-human transmission. Infections and deaths among healthcare workers were reported, which raised the risk of nosocomial amplification and further spread within health facilities.
The outbreak is declared over, as of 30 November 2025, with no new cases reported for 42 consecutive days....