World Health Organization reports initial verified case of Ebola survivor in Congo epidemic

Professor Jean-Jacques Muyembe is currently conducting research in a laboratory at the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, as of May 20, 2026.

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The World Health Organization expressed concern on Tuesday regarding the rapid spread and large scale of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has claimed over 130 lives, and warned that the outbreak may be prolonged.

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The UN health agency has declared the recent surge of the highly contagious haemorrhagic fever in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo an international health emergency, prompting a heightened response.

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There is currently no vaccine or therapeutic treatment available for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which is responsible for the ongoing outbreak, a strain for which no vaccine or treatment has been developed.

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Over the past half-century, Ebola has resulted in the deaths of more than 15,000 people in Africa, highlighting the severity of the disease.

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The World Health Organization announced on Friday that a confirmed Ebola patient in the Democratic Republic of Congo has made a full recovery, marking a significant development in the outbreak.

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According to the WHO's Anais Legand, a patient was discharged from the hospital on May 27, after recovering from the disease, and has been reintegrated into their community, as confirmed by the DRC.

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Legand noted that this recovery is the first among patients who have received laboratory confirmation of their Ebola diagnosis, but she suspects that there may have been other unconfirmed recoveries.

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The patient's recovery was confirmed after two negative tests, prompting their discharge from a care center, as explained by Legand.

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As of the WHO's latest update, there have been 17 confirmed and 223 suspected Ebola deaths in the DR Congo since the outbreak was declared on May 15, out of 125 confirmed cases and over 900 suspected cases.

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The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which is driving the current outbreak, has a case fatality rate of up to 50 percent, but the current rate appears to be below 25 percent, although this number is subject to change.

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According to Legand, a WHO technical officer specializing in viral haemorrhagic fevers, early access to medical care can significantly improve survival rates for Ebola patients.

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Legand expressed optimism that more patients will recover from the disease, citing the importance of prompt medical intervention in improving outcomes.