Congo Reports New Ebola Outbreak in Southern Kasai

Congo’s southern Kasai region is facing a new Ebola outbreak, with 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths reported. The outbreak began with a pregnant woman admitted in August who later died, and it has since spread to hospital staff and others in contact with patients. Ebola, which spreads through bodily fluids, causes fever, bleeding, and organ failure, and nearly half of past patients have died. This is Congo’s sixteenth Ebola outbreak since 1976, highlighting the region’s ongoing vulnerability.

Congo has reported a new outbreak of Ebola in the southern Kasai region, with 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths so far. Health authorities traced the first known patient to a pregnant woman who was admitted to a hospital in Bulape in late August after showing bleeding symptoms. She passed away within a week, and soon after, several hospital staff and laboratory workers who had contact with her also fell ill.

In response to the growing number of suspected cases, the National Institute of Public Health declared a heightened state of emergency earlier this week. On Thursday, the health ministry officially confirmed that Ebola is once again spreading in the area. Provincial authorities initially reported eight deaths, but the toll quickly rose as symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, and bleeding—hallmarks of Ebola—appeared among those exposed during treatment or funeral rituals.

Ebola is a highly contagious virus that spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. Early symptoms often include fever, fatigue, and muscle aches, which can escalate to severe bleeding, organ failure, and death. People providing care to patients and those handling the deceased are particularly at risk, with historical data showing that nearly half of infected individuals succumb to the disease.

This outbreak marks the sixteenth time Congo has battled Ebola since the first recorded case in 1976. Some previous outbreaks have resulted in hundreds of fatalities, highlighting Central Africa's ongoing vulnerability to recurring infections. Health authorities indicated that the latest outbreak was traced back to a 34-year-old woman admitted in August with typical Ebola symptoms, underscoring the virus’s persistent threat to the region.