New Ebola Outbreak Declared in Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kasai Province; 81 Cases, 28 Deaths Reported

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has declared a new Ebola outbreak in the Kasai Province. The outbreak, caused by the severe Zaire Ebola virus strain, is suspected to be a new spillover from an animal host rather than a continuation of previous epidemics. The outbreak began with a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was hospitalised on the 20th of August and died five days later. Two health workers who treated her also became infected and died. As of now, there are 81 confirmed cases and 28 deaths, including four health workers.
 
Congo has a history of Ebola outbreaks, with 15 previous epidemics, including a major one in 2019 and the most recent in 2022. However, genetic analysis has confirmed that this latest outbreak is distinct from the previous ones.