The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has officially declared a new Ebola outbreak in its Kasai Province. The virus responsible is the highly dangerous Zaire strain. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), the "virus is believed to have jumped from an animal to a human". The first known case was a 34-year-old pregnant woman who died on August 25, reports WHO. Two healthcare workers who cared for her also became infected and passed away. As of September 15 WHO has confirmed a total of 81 cases and 28 deaths, including four healthcare workers.How Fatal Is Zaire Strain of Ebola?According to 1983 The Journal of Infectious Diseases study, this strain of Ebola is different and far more deadly than the Sudan strain which caused an outbreak in Uganda as recently as January 2025.In the study, the Zaire strain killed 90% of those infected.The Sudan strain was also very dangerous, but less so, killing between 55% and 65% of people.Also Read: India Sees Rising Death Risk From Chronic Diseases While Other Countries Report Decline, Finds Lancet StudyHow Ebola Spreads and Its SymptomsThe WHO explains that the Ebola was first discovered in 1976. Scientists believe it originally comes from fruit bats. From there, it can spread to humans who come into contact with other infected animals, like monkeys. Once a person is infected, the virus spreads to others mainly through direct contact with their blood or other body fluids and is a deadly zoonotic disease (World Organization for Animal Health)Symptoms can show up anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure and often start very suddenly. Early signs include a high fever, extreme tiredness, and muscle pain. As the disease gets worse, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and internal or external bleeding. Without fast medical care, the death rate can be as high as 50% to 90%. Ebola can spread quickly in crowded places like hospitals and during funerals, where people might touch the body of someone who died from the virus.Can Ebola Be Cured?While there isn't a single cure, there are effective treatments. The Ervebo vaccine is a powerful tool being used to contain the current outbreak. This vaccine is highly effective against the Zaire strain of Ebola—the one in this outbreak—and has a 100% success rate when given right after someone has been exposed.Also Read: Weatherman Geoff Fox Announces To Enter Hospice Care For The Recurrent Cancer TreatmentWhy Is This Ebola Outbreak A Cause of ConcernThe Ebola virus has caused a big wave of concern in the country. The DRC is already dealing with other major health crises, like mpox, cholera, and measles, which are stretching its limited resources. The country is also facing armed conflict, making it hard to get medical supplies and staff to remote communities.Even though the affected area, Kasai Province, is somewhat isolated, it's close to a major city and the border of Angola. This raises the risk that the virus could spread to new areas as people travel for work and trade.To stop the spread, health officials are using a strategy called "ring vaccination." This means they're vaccinating not only people who are infected but also everyone they've been in contact with, as well as frontline healthcare workers. Other key actions include quickly separating sick people from healthy ones and tracing their contacts. The WHO and its partners have sent 48 experts to the region and provided special medication called Mab114 to treat patients. They are also helping neighboring countries prepare in case the virus crosses borders.How Was Early Detection Possible For Ebola?Modern technology is helping to spot outbreaks faster than ever before. An AI platform called EPIWATCH noticed a sharp increase in reports of illness in the DRC in early September, even before the outbreak was officially confirmed. This early warning can give authorities a crucial head start in their response, especially in areas with limited medical testing.The WHO believes that if the outbreak is contained quickly, its impact will likely stay local. The risk is currently assessed as high for the DRC, moderate for the surrounding region, and low globally.
Email
Google
Facebook Email Google Facebook