The Lancet On Sept 4, 2025, in line with International Health Regulations (2005) requirements,1 the Minister of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo officially declared a new Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai province,2 affecting the health zone of Bulape. This new outbreak of Ebola virus disease has occurred in a fragile context, regionally and globally, as the Democratic Republic of the Congo is responding to an ongoing complex humanitarian situation, as well as outbreaks of cholera, mpox, and measles. The African region, as a whole, is adversely affected by the current global financial and geopolitical challenges. These external factors are likely to strain response measures in an already fragile situation, making decisive, rapid response by all actors—regional and international—of particular importance.
Ebola virus disease represents a major public health risk due to the potential for international spread and high case-fatality rate, varying between 25% and 90%.3 Experience of the Ebola virus disease outbreak of 2014–16 in west Africa showed that, while the disease was initially assumed to occur only in isolated areas of central Africa, spread from rural to urban areas can occur, with substantial socioeconomic consequences.4 Both the experience of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in west Africa and the COVID-19 pandemic show how rapidly the spread of a disease can disrupt regional and global travel, trade, and other links.