The last Ebola patient in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been discharged, marking an important milestone in the efforts to end the outbreak. The recovery kicks off a 42-day countdown to declaring the outbreak over if no further cases are confirmed.

Since the outbreak was declared on 4 September in Bulape health zone, Kasai Province, a total of 64 cases – 53 confirmed and 11 probable – were recorded. A total of 19 patients have recovered from the disease. Despite the challenges of remote terrain and poor infrastructure, the Ministry of Health, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, acted swiftly to scale up outbreak response measures. A 32-bed Ebola treatment centre was set up with an Intensive Infectious Disease Treatment Module. At least 35,000 people have been vaccinated against Ebola in Bulape.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, praised the swift recovery as a testament to strong partnerships and national expertise. If no new cases are detected, the outbreak will be declared over in early December 2025.