16th Ebola Outbreak Ends

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today declared the end of an Ebola Zaire virus disease outbreak in Kasai Province, after no new cases were reported in the past 42 days since the last patient was discharged from the treatment centre.

In total, 64 Ebola cases and 45 related fatalities were recorded in this outbreak. 

This outbreak was the DRC's 16th since Ebola 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.

The DRC stated that 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. 

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, played a key role in supporting the response by enabling the swift deployment of over 48,000 Ervebo® vaccine doses from the Gavi-funded global stockpile.

"The swift response 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, in a press release on December 1, 2025.

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.  

While the Ebola outbreak has ended, the U.S. CDC has included the DRC in Travel Health Notices regarding measles and polio health risk in 2025. The CDC recommends visitors to the DRC speak with a travel vaccine advisor regarding immunization options against these and other diseases found in Africa.