Kinshasa, September 29th, 2025 (CPA) – The first Ebola survivors in Kasai province, in the centre of the Democratic Republic of Congo, have returned home, the Ministry in charge of Public Health has announced on Monday in a statement received by the CPA.
‘The good news is that the first survivors have been able to return home. They will play a vital role in helping their communities and combating fear and stigmatisation,’ the statement said.
« Ebola is a major concern, with 47 confirmed cases and 25 deaths recorded since September 4th. The mortality rate is 61%. The Bulape health zone is the most affected, but the epidemic is spreading to other areas such as Bambalayi. To better care for patients, a second treatment centre has been opened, » the source has added.
With this in mind, the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare has announced a new targeted vaccination strategy, which will begin this week to protect the most vulnerable populations.
431 suspected cases of Mpox identified in Week 37
In addition, the source reported that during Week 37, 431 suspected cases of Mpox were identified. This brings the total number of suspected cases for the year to more than 107,710. This reveals a total of 29,772 confirmed cases and 182 confirmed cases during the current week.
In response to this situation, she added, ‘vaccination efforts are intensifying. In total, more than 642,802 people have already been vaccinated, including 39,464 with the LC16 vaccine in six health zones in Kinshasa,’ has noted the Ministry in charge of Health.
To cope with the increase in cases in certain provinces, new field teams will be deployed, and the use of two different vaccines is planned for the coming weeks.
Decrease in the number of cholera cases and deaths
In addition, the source indicated that the number of cholera cases and deaths is declining. ‘Nevertheless, the epidemic remains active in certain areas, such as Equateur province. In week 37 alone, 1,186 new suspected cases were recorded, with 33 deaths,’ the statement has noted.
Since the beginning of the year, this brings the total number of suspected cases to 53,902 and the number of deaths to 1,601. It is crucial to note that 61% of suspected cases in the last four weeks have come from the provinces of Nord-Kivu, Sud-Kivu and Maniema.
The Ministry in charge of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare met with its partners to take stock of the three epidemics that continue to threaten the country: Mpox, cholera and Ebola virus disease (EVD). The aim was to evaluate actions, identify challenges and work together to strengthen the strategy to better protect the population.