Congo’s Ebola Resurgence: Kasai Hit as Country Reflects on Its Worst Outbreaks

Outbreak origin and spread

The index case was a 34-year-old pregnant woman admitted in late August with bleeding and high fever. Following her death, several hospital staff and lab workers developed symptoms. Health officials have raised the emergency level as suspected cases rise across Bulape and Mweka health zones.

Historical context — past devastating outbreaks

The most deadly Ebola epidemic in Congo’s recent memory occurred from 2018 to 2020 in the Kivu region. That outbreak recorded approximately 3,470 cases and claimed around 2,280 lives :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}. It remains the second-largest Ebola outbreak globally, surpassed only by the 2014–2016 West Africa crisis.

In contrast, the Equateur Province outbreaks have been smaller; for instance, in 2022, a brief flare-up saw just a handful of cases. These recurrent flare-ups highlight the country’s persistent exposure to Ebola, compounded by health infrastructure challenges :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.

What was learned and retained

Previous outbreaks—particularly the prolonged one in Kivu—underscore the importance of rapid surveillance, vaccination deployment, and community engagement. Vaccines like Ervebo and improved response frameworks were developed during these crises and remain critical tools in mitigating current and future outbreaks.

For comprehensive coverage of Congo’s public health emergencies, explore the Cameroon Concord Health section.