Seven Strategies Implemented in Response to the 16th Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Lessons Learned over a Three-Month Period

The 2025 Ebola outbreak that ravaged the Bulape Health District (HD) in Kasai, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was tackled using the incident management system (IMS) model. The Bulape HD is located in the Mweka territory, which has experienced two Ebola epidemics: one in 2007 and another in 2008. The IMS comprises seven strategies recommended for an effective response to an Ebola outbreak: (i) thorough investigation, (ii) strengthening infection prevention and control measures in the community, (iii) ensuring that medical care is provided by experienced professionals, (iv) strengthening risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), (v) ring vaccination, (vi) operational research, and (vii) anchoring interventions in the existing health system. We share our experience implementing these seven strategies and compare them with those utilized during three previous Ebola outbreaks. This paper describes our achievements, the resulting benefits, and the factors that facilitated the implementation of the aforementioned strategies. A literature review and interviews were conducted. The atlas.ti 22 software was used for data analysis. Implementing these seven strategies contributed to an effective response, largely due to the experience and expertise of those involved but also thanks to the support of technical and financial partners (TFPs) and the engagement of the local community. Challenges such as geographical accessibility, the fragile health system, the community's strong attachment to traditional practices, and negative reactions to healthcare-which was widely discredited, with many of those involved expressing a lack of faith in its effectiveness-were major obstacles. To overcome these challenges, an integrated approach was utilized, combining a rapid comprehensive response with deep and respectful community engagement. The support and alignment of TFPs were invaluable during this process. The RCCE pillar proved key to successful IMS implementation. Our experiences will be useful during the next Ebola outbreak in the DRC; additionally, they may also help to inform the response to similar outbreaks in other countries.