Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have declared an Ebola outbreak in Kasai Province, with 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed.

The outbreak is concentrated in the Bulape and Mweka health zones in the south-central region of the country. Samples tested on September 3 at the National Institute of Biomedical Research in Kinshasa confirmed the Ebola Zaire strain as the cause. Symptoms of the virus include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and haemorrhaging.

To rapidly contain the outbreak, an advance team from the DRC Ministry of Health and WHO has been deployed, including experts in epidemiology, infection prevention, and case management. Communication specialists have also been sent to engage communities on protective measures.

WHO is delivering two tonnes of essential supplies, including personal protective equipment, mobile laboratory equipment, and medical supplies. The affected area is remote, at least a day’s drive from the provincial capital Tshikapa, with limited air links.

“We’re acting with determination to rapidly halt the spread of the virus and protect communities,” said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “We’re working closely with the health authorities to quickly scale up key response measures to end the outbreak as soon as possible.”

WHO warned that case numbers are likely to rise due to ongoing transmission. The country has a stockpile of treatments and 2,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine prepositioned in Kinshasa, which will be moved to Kasai to vaccinate contacts and frontline health workers.

The DRC’s last Ebola outbreak occurred in Equateur Province in April 2022 and was controlled within three months. Kasai province previously experienced Ebola outbreaks in 2007 and 2008. Since the virus was first identified in 1976, the DRC has recorded 15 outbreaks.

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