Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo Claims 42 Lives, UN Urges Vigilance

The latest Ebola outbreak in Kasai Province, central DR Congo, has claimed 42 lives out of 64 recorded cases, local health authorities reported as of September 26. This marks the 16th Ebola flare-up in the country since the virus emerged in 1976.

Bazin Pembe, provincial minister of communication and media, confirmed that of the 64 cases, 53 were laboratory-confirmed and 11 deemed probable. Children aged nine and under are bearing the brunt of the crisis, according to a recent WHO report, while patients range from infants to seniors in their 60s.

Humanitarian agencies warn that fragile infrastructure—limited access to clean water, drug shortages, and poor sanitation—has hampered the local response. The UN Children’s Fund underscored the need for global vigilance, with UNICEF representative John Agbor saying, “Outbreaks like this remind us how important global preparedness is, as well as the immediate response.”

Vaccination teams have protected 2,103 people so far under a ring vaccination strategy, which focuses on those most likely to have been exposed. More than 20,000 vaccine doses are already on site, and nearly 45,000 additional doses are en route to Kasai to expand the vaccination ring, the UN agency added.

As health workers race against time, experts say this outbreak is a critical test for both local systems and international coordination. For young global citizens, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, the crisis highlights how interconnected our world is—and why global solidarity can make the difference between containment and catastrophe.

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Ebola outbreak kills 42 in DR Congo as UN calls for global vigilance

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