DR Congo Ebola Recovery Last Patient Discharged in 2025

DR Congo Ebola Recovery: The last patient is discharged as the 16th outbreak nears its end. WHO confirms 19 recoveries and a 42-day countdown to officially declare the outbreak over.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reached a major milestone in its battle against Ebola. The country’s last confirmed Ebola patient has been discharged from a treatment facility in Kasai province, marking a significant step toward ending the nation’s 16th outbreak.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this patient is the 19th to recover from the outbreak, which has seen 64 cases since it was declared on September 4, 2025. The organization confirmed that if no new cases are reported over the next 42 days, the outbreak will officially be declared over.

Robust Response Ensures Rapid Recovery

Mohamed Janabi, WHO’s director for Africa, described the recovery as a “remarkable achievement,” highlighting the swift and coordinated response by the DRC government, health workers, and international partners. A video posted on X (formerly Twitter) showed health teams celebrating as the final patient left the Bulape treatment centre.

The WHO deployed rapid response teams and established a 32-bed Ebola treatment facility in Kasai province, marking the first such center in the region outside of training exercises. More than 35,000 people in Bulape have received vaccinations, helping to contain the virus quickly.

Outbreak Overview and Challenges

The outbreak, the 16th in the country’s history, primarily affected the Bulape and Mweka areas in southwest Kasai. There were 53 confirmed cases and 11 probable cases, with typical Ebola symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and internal bleeding. Tragically, 45 people lost their lives.

Kasai’s remote geography posed logistical challenges for response teams but may have also limited the virus’s spread. No new cases have been reported since September 25, signaling a potential end to this outbreak.

Ebola’s History and Global Impact

Ebola was first identified in 1976 in what is now the DRC. The virus is highly lethal, with untreated cases resulting in mortality rates as high as 90%, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The most devastating Ebola outbreak occurred in West Africa from 2014 to 2016, infecting 28,600 people and claiming 11,325 lives, with the virus spreading internationally to Europe and the United States.

The DRC’s last Ebola outbreak in 2022 was limited, with only a single confirmed case, reflecting the country’s improved preparedness and rapid response capabilities.

Looking Ahead

The successful discharge of the last patient underscores the importance of vaccination campaigns, rapid response teams, and local healthcare resilience. While the 42-day countdown continues, this achievement provides hope and a blueprint for containing future Ebola outbreaks in remote regions.

DR Congo Ebola Recovery