The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is grappling with its first Ebola outbreak in three years, with the World Health Organization (WHO) confirming 48 cases and 31 deaths as of September 18, 2025, two weeks after the government's declaration.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus shared the update during a virtual press briefing from Geneva, noting the virus's persistence in Congo's tropical forests, where it serves as a natural reservoir. Symptoms include fever, body aches, and diarrhea, and it can reactivate in survivors years later.

The outbreak centers in Kasai Province, prompting swift international response. The WHO has vaccinated frontline health workers and contacts using the Ervebo vaccine, delivering an initial 400 doses from DRC's stockpile of 2,000 to the epicenter in Bulape.

Over 14 tonnes of medical supplies have arrived, experts deployed, and a treatment center established, currently caring for 16 patients. More than 900 contacts are under surveillance, with the first two recoveries discharged on September 16.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a low-risk advisory for the U.S., confirming no cases outside Congo. This marks the 15th Ebola outbreak in the DRC since 1976, underscoring the region's vulnerability amid ongoing conflicts and health challenges.