The Ebola virus outbreak in the southern Democratic Republic of Congo is showing clear signs of decline, according to a situation report issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa on Wednesday, October 1st.
Over the past two weeks, fewer cases have been recorded among children, and the case fatality ratio has shown a steady downward trend due to improvements in surveillance and case management. As of 28 September, health authorities had documented 64 Ebola cases in total — 53 confirmed and 11 probable — in the Bulape Health Zone of Kasai Province. The outbreak, declared on 4 September, has so far resulted in 42 deaths, including 31 confirmed and 11 probable. Thirteen patients remain hospitalised, while nine have been discharged following successful treatment.
The WHO noted that women account for 57.8% of infections, with children aged 0–9 years representing 25% of cases. Five confirmed cases have been reported among health care workers, resulting in three deaths. Despite the outbreak’s seriousness, its spread remains geographically contained within six health areas out of 21 in the Bulape zone, near the Angolan border. With the overall case fatality ratio currently at 65.6%, health officials are intensifying containment and treatment measures to sustain the declining transmission trend and prevent the virus from spreading to new areas.