Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are battling another Ebola outbreak, with eleven new cases confirmed in Kasai Province’s Bulape Health Zone.
The outbreak has now spread across six health areas — Bambalaie, Bulape, Bulape Communautaire, Dikolo, Ingongo, and Mpianga — bringing the total number of reported cases to 57. Of these, 47 are confirmed while 10 are considered probable. So far, 35 people have died, including five health workers.
Children are among the hardest hit, with those under nine years old making up nearly a quarter of all infections. Women also represent the majority of cases, at 61%, though men are dying at a higher rate.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa CDC have raised concerns about the pace of vaccination. Only 400 initial doses of the Ervebo vaccine have reached the affected areas, though an additional 45,000 have been approved and are expected to arrive. Congo already has a small stockpile of 2,000 doses, but access and funding remain major obstacles.
This marks the country’s 16th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in 1976, with the current strain traced to the deadly Zaire species. The crisis adds further pressure on a fragile healthcare system already burdened by ongoing conflict in the east, where rebel violence has left hospitals and communities struggling to cope.