Ebola in Congo 2025: Latest Cases, Vaccines, and Safety Measures

Summary: The Health Ministry of Congo has announced that a new Ebola outbreak has occurred in the region

The announcement

The Health Ministry of Congo has announced the outbreak of a new Ebola virus in the country, making it the 16^th such outbreak.

The Health Minister of Congo, Samuel-Roger Kamba, stated that according to preliminary reports, there are 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths (14 in Boulape and 1 in Mweka) and four healthcare workers. However, more research is underway as these are just the preliminary reports. The fatality rate is 53.6% which highlights the seriousness of the situation.

Those infected exhibited symptoms of fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and haemorrhage.

The Ebola Virus

The Ebola virus is highly contagious. It causes Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and Ebola Haemorrhagic fever, which are infectious diseases. It spreads through contact with bodily fluids of an infected human or animal, i.e. vomit, blood, semen or faeces. It can be contracted by touching contaminated objects or surfaces. Contact with infected animals causes the initial transmission to humans.

The symptoms

Initial symptoms include fever, sore throat, headaches and muscle pain. Followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, decreased liver and kidney functions, leading to internal and external bleeding, and death. Death is caused by shock due to loss of fluids and occurs between 6 to 16 the first symptoms.

The patient

A 34-year-old pregnant woman from Boulape, in the southern province of Kasai, was the confirmed case of the Ebola virus.

The support

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has sent healthcare experts to the Congo to work in tandem with the country’s Rapid Response team in Kasai province for enhanced monitoring, treatment, infection prevention, and management/control of healthcare facilities. Supplies like personal protective equipment, mobile laboratory equipment, and medical supplies are also being provided.

The medication

Congo has faced many Ebola virus outbreaks in the past and has a robust stock of treatments and the Ervebo Ebola vaccines. The Ebola vaccine rVSV – ZEBOV was approved in the United States and has proven effective. According to the WHO, approximately 345,000 people were vaccinated during the Kivu Ebola epidemic from 2018 to 2020.

The WHO Regional Director of Africa, Dr Mohammed Janabi, said that they are acting with resolve to prevent the virus from spreading and to protect the nation.

Prevention

Preventive measures can be taken as a matter of precaution.

Healthcare workers should wear protective clothing with masks and gloves
Family members should isolate themselves from the infected member.
Regular disinfection of the premises should be carried out.
Awareness regarding the virus should be explained to the citizens.
Bushmeat should be handled with gloves and cooked thoroughly.
Those who die of the virus should be buried without any direct contact with the body.
Any person suspected of infection, if found travelling, should be sent to the isolation centre, and contact tracing should be followed. The transportation used by such a person should be disinfected and sterilised, and co co-passenger should be screened and isolated.
Lab assistants should wear protective gear and be well-trained in BSL-4 practices.
Isolating the patients or quarantining them can help reduce the spread of the virus.

Conclusion

The above precautions may help to pause the spread of the disease. Meanwhile, we hope that there are fewer new cases and that the virus is contained at the earliest. This will prevent the spread of the virus to other parts of the world.

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