The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) appears to be shivering in light of the recrudescence of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The West African regional body has accordingly raised the red flag, urging countries to institute stringent measures to curb the escalation.
The deadly effects of the virus on African countries including Liberia are renewed as it ravages the East African nation where the virus originated from.
Last week, the government of DR Congo announced the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), following laboratory confirmation of the virus in five samples from suspected cases.
Accordingly, ECOWAS in a September 7, 2025 statement stated that the index case is a 34-year-old woman residing in Bulape District (Kasai Province) who was diagnosed with high fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and multiple bleedings.
The statement added that the victim was admitted on August 20, 2025, at Bulape Regional Hospital, but subsequently died on August 25, 2025, revealing that up to date, 28 suspected cases and at least 16 deaths have been reported, including four health workers, with a case fatality rate estimated at 57%.
In response to this emergency, the statement said the National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) of DRC has activated the Incident Management System. It emphasized that rapid response teams have been deployed, epidemiological surveillance has been strengthened, and triage and isolation structures have been established.
Also, ECOWAS disclosed that investigations are ongoing to identify all contacts. This is the sixteenth outbreak recorded in the country since the discovery of the virus in 1976. This new flare-up is caused by the Zaire strain, which has an existing vaccine.
According to the World Health Organization, DRC currently has a stock of vaccines ‘prepositioned in Kinshasa,’ which are to be delivered to the outbreak sites.
ECOWAS noted that the probability of case importation from DRC to the ECOWAS region remains significant due to the high volume of travel between DRC and West African capitals, as such, the Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC), strongly recommends to ECOWAS Member States to strengthen surveillance and early warning systems, particularly at air points of entry, especially for passengers arriving from or transiting through the DRC.
The RCSDC also advances the reinforcement of the capacities of national rapid response teams, enabling them to respond immediately to the notification of a suspected case.
The institution also encourages member states to ensure the availability of diagnostic capacity for EVD (Zaire strain), as well as the safe collection, transport, and sample analysis and strengthen risk communication and community engagement capacities.
Additionally, ECOWAS in its release recommended that member states strengthen/develop infection prevention and control capacities to ensure safe working conditions in healthcare facilities and within communities, and reinforce prevention and control measures during mass gatherings.
Meanwhile, ECOWAS encouraged member states to be prepared to provide safe care for all EVD cases in appropriately equipped facilities, recommending that the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC), will continue to closely monitor the situation and will regularly communicate relevant updates.
