Phylogenetic analysis of the 2025 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
On 4 September 2025, the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare officially declared the 16th Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This outbreak ended on 1 December 2025 and occurred in Bulape Health Zone, Kasaï Province, an area with limited access to appropriate healthcare facilities and resources. Here, we describe the probable index patient and molecular investigations of samples obtained from six suspected patients from the initial outbreak phase. We identified Orthoebolavirus zairense (EBOV) in five samples from different patients. In addition, we performed whole-genome sequencing and generated four complete EBOV genomes. These genomes form a well-supported phylogenetic cluster with genomes from the 1976 Yambuku/Mayinga outbreak. This study suggests a likely new zoonotic spillover event from an as-yet unidentified natural reservoir. While the close relationship to 1976 EBOV Yambuku/Mayinga genomes is striking, this poses additional challenges on the comprehension of the animal reservoir species. The study reports the emergence of a new Ebola variant in a remote area of Kasai Province, DR Congo. The findings highlight the need for rapid detection and sequencing to better identify variants and quickly respond to outbreaks.
Authors
- Jean-Claude Makangara-Cigolo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1791-2247)
- Piet Maes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4571-5232)
- Olga Ntumba-Tshitenge (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9942-1758)
- Daan Jansen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4612-6891)
- Jason Kindrachuk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3305-7084)
- Patrick Mukadi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9312-9345)
- Kevin K. Ariën (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1340-4165)
- Koen Vercauteren (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1472-9938)
- Samuel Wilkinson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6944-5927)
- Anne W. Rimoin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0662-9067)
- Joshua Quick (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6376-871X)
- M. Keita
- Isabel Brosius (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2227-8874)
- Nono-Raymond Kuispond Swar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2090-9636)
- Lisa E. Hensley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1188-4342)
- Aine Niamh O’Toole (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8083-474X)
- Placide Mbala‐Kingebeni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1556-3570)
- Daniel Mukadi‐Bamuleka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6836-8704)
- Miles W. Carroll (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7026-7187)
- Laurens Liesenborghs (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5616-8548)
- Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2933-818X)
- Éric Delaporte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1822-9853)
- Eddy Kinganda-Lusamaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9795-0165)
- Tony Wawina-Bokalanga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6659-0267)
- Nicola Low (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4817-8986)
- Andrew Rambaut (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4337-3707)
- Richard Kitenge-Omasumbu
- Adrienne Amuri-Aziza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5516-0779)
- Louis Tshulo
- Gradi Luakanda-Ndelemo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0406-2361)
- Princesse Paku-Tshambu
- Fiston Cikaya-Kankolongo
- Albert Ngonda-Tshibinda
- Jean-Paul Mbantshi-Beya
- Serge Bula-Loso
- Nick Loman
- Dieudonné Mwamba
- Mathias Mossoko
- Sabue Mulangu
- Olivier Tshiani-Mbaya
- Martine Peeters
- Justus Nsio
- John Otshudiema-Otokoye
- Pierre Akilimali
- Emmanuel Lokilo-Lofiko
- Ahidjo Ayouba
- Prince Akil-Bandali
- Christian Ngandu
- Krutika Kuppalli
- Steve Ahuka-Mundeke
- Servet Kimbonza
Institutions
- University of Bern (CH)
- Ministry of Public Health (CD)
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (BE)
- Inserm (FR)
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Université de Montpellier (FR)
- Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (GB)
- Kinshasa General Hospital (CD)
- University of Kinshasa (CD)
- Center for Grain and Animal Health Research (US)
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (ET)
- Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (US)
- National Institute of Biomedical Research (CD)
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (CH)
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (CG)
- University of Goma (CD)
- Générale de Santé (FR)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
- Ecole de santé publique de Kinshasa (CD)
- University of Manitoba (CA)
- Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde (BE)
- University of Birmingham (GB)
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (US)
- University of the Western Cape (ZA)
- University of Edinburgh (GB)
- KU Leuven (BE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2026-09-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-77542-9
- Primary Topic
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- University of Bern
- Wellcome Trust
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
- Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde
- European Commission
- Agence Française de Développement
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme