The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has declared a new outbreak of the Ebola virus that has already claimed 15 lives since late August.
The announcement made by the Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba on Thursday, September 4, in Kinshasa, sparking renewed fears in a nation still recovering from past epidemics.
According to provisional figures, 28 suspected cases have been recorded so far.
The first case was detected on August 20 in a 34-year-old pregnant woman admitted to a hospital in central Kasai province. Officials confirmed that the Zaire strain of the virus is responsible for the new outbreak.
This is the most dangerous form of Ebola but one for which a vaccine exists.
“It’s the 16th outbreak recorded in our country,” Kamba told reporters.
He added that vaccination remains the most effective weapon, but logistical challenges must be resolved to roll out doses quickly in affected areas.
Ebola, first identified in 1976, spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids.
The disease causes severe fever, bleeding, and organ failure, often leading to death. Its origins are traced to bats, which act as natural reservoirs of the virus.
The DRC, home to more than 100 million people, has faced repeated battles with the virus.
The deadliest outbreak between 2018 and 2020 killed nearly 2,300 people.
The country’s fragile healthcare system, poor infrastructure, and limited communication networks make containment efforts particularly difficult.
Health experts are now working to trace contacts, isolate patients, and prepare vaccination campaigns in Kasai.
Authorities warn that any delay could allow the virus to spread further in the densely populated region.
This outbreak marks the 16th in Congo’s history, highlighting the persistent threat the disease poses to public health across Africa.
With a vaccine available for the Zaire strain, officials stress that swift intervention is vital to preventing another large-scale crisis.