Ebola Outbreak's Case Fatality Ratio is 54%

Since the first outbreak of the Zaire Ebola virus was identified in 1976 in Africa, numerous outbreaks have been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO published a Disease Outbreak News on September 5, 2025, regarding the ongoing Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

As of September 4, 2025, 28 suspected cases, including 15 deaths (case fatality ratio: 54%), have been reported from three areas of the Bulape health zone (Bulape, Bulape Com, and Dikolo) and the Mweka health zone.

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.

Among the deaths, four are unvaccinated health-care workers.

This is the 16th Ebola outbreak in the DRC. The last EVD outbreak in the country was declared on August 15, 2022, in Beni city, North Kivu province.

In accordance with the recommendations of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization, the Ervebo vaccine is recommended during a Zaire EVD outbreak for contacts and potential contacts of confirmed/suspected cases, as well as for frontline workers.

The DRC's Ministry of Health, with support from WHO and partners, is implementing public health response measures to contain the outbreak. 

Ebola is a serious, often fatal illness transmitted to humans through close contact with the blood or secretions of infected wildlife and then spreads through human-to-human transmission.

The WHO assesses the overall public health risk posed by the current EVD outbreak as high at the national level, moderate at the regional level, and low at the global level. No travel restrictions have been issued.

As of September 8, 2025, Ebola vaccines and therapies are unavailable in the USA.