Background
The Ebola virus was discovered in 1976 in the village of Yambuku in northern Congo (then Zaire), near the Ebola river that gave the virus its name. Since then, outbreaks have recurred regularly in the country's tropical forest regions, often linked to contact with infected animals such as bats and primates.
The largest DRC outbreak was in 2018–2020 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, with 3,470 cases and 2,287 deaths. It was the first outbreak with large‑scale Ervebo vaccine deployment. The most recent outbreak occurred in 2025 in Bulape.
The country has extensive experience with rapid outbreak control through mobile teams and ring vaccination, but conflict and logistical challenges remain significant obstacles.