WHO confirms end of DR Congo’s 16th Ebola outbreak after final patient recovers
The DRC has declared its 16th Ebola outbreak over in Kasai Province after 42 days without new cases, as WHO confirms 64 infections, 45 deaths and continued surveillance.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has officially declared the Ebola outbreak in Kasai Province over, after 42 days with no new cases since the last patient was discharged in late October 2025.
The outbreak, first reported on September 4, resulted in 64 cases—53 confirmed and 11 probable—and 45 deaths. The final patient was discharged on October 19, starting the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) mandatory 42-day countdown before an outbreak can be declared over.
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This was the country’s 16th Ebola outbreak since the disease was first identified in 1976. Kasai Province has previously recorded outbreaks in 2007 and 2008.
"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 DRC Public Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba.
The DRC will now enter 90 days of heightened disease surveillance. During this time, a survivor care programme supported by WHO and its partners will continue providing comprehensive post-recovery support to Ebola survivors.
Reflecting on the achievement, WHO Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Janabi noted that 112 WHO experts and frontline responders were deployed to assist the government, with more than 150 tonnes of medical supplies and equipment 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," he said.
"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."
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus echoed these sentiments, expressing pride in the organisation's role in helping end the outbreak.
"We honour the memory of those who died, especially those who lost their lives while serving others," he told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
However, he also warned of a new health threat in the region, as Ethiopia reported an outbreak of Marburg virus disease just over two weeks ago. The country has so far confirmed 12 cases, including eight deaths, with three patients recovered and one still undergoing treatment.
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