World Health Organization (WHO) says at least 42 people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the latest Ebola outbreak declared in early September. So far, 64 infections have been confirmed.
Gatekeepers News reports that WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X that “at this time, 64 people have had Ebola in the DRC, of which 42 have died,” adding that the UN health agency is working with partners to support the government-led response.
Health authorities in the DRC launched a vaccination campaign in September after cases resurfaced in Kasai Province. The Zaire strain, for which a vaccine exists, has been confirmed as the cause. The International Coordination Group on Vaccine Supply has already approved the shipment of 45,000 additional doses to the country.
The WHO estimates the outbreak’s mortality rate at 45.7%—within the 25% to 90% range recorded in previous epidemics. It warns of a high risk of further spread within the DRC, though the regional risk is considered moderate.
The agency noted that the outbreak is being driven by inadequate protective equipment, incomplete contact tracing, late case detection, unsafe burials, and heavy reliance on traditional healers. High population mobility also remains a major concern.
Ebola, a deadly viral disease first identified in 1976, spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids and often leads to severe bleeding and organ failure. Since its discovery, the virus has killed more than 15,000 people across Africa.
The deadliest outbreak in the DRC occurred between 2018 and 2020, claiming nearly 2,300 lives.
