Phylogenetic analysis of the 2025 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Authors

Adrienne Amuri-Aziza, Gradi Luakanda-Ndelemo, Jean-Claude Makangara-Cigolo, Eddy Kinganda-Lusamaki, Christian Ngandu, Serge Bula-Loso, Mathias Mossoko, Louis Tshulo, Prince Akil-Bandali, Richard Kitenge-Omasumbu, Daan Jansen, Isabel Brosius, Emmanuel Lokilo-Lofiko, Servet Kimbonza, Princesse Paku-Tshambu, Albert Ngonda-Tshibinda, Nono-Raymond Kuispond-Swar, Ahidjo Ayouba, Justus Nsio, Jean-Paul Mbantshi-Beya, Fiston Cikaya-Kankolongo, Olga Ntumba-Tshitenge, John Otshudiema-Otokoye, Mory Keita, Patrick Mukadi, Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka, Olivier Tshiani-Mbaya, Pierre Akilimali, Sabue Mulangu, Joshua Quick, Nick Loman, Dieudonné Mwamba, Eric Delaporte, Lisa E Hensley, Anne W Rimoin, Samuel Wilkinson, Kevin K Ariën, Martine Peeters, Steve Ahuka-Mundeke, Laurens Liesenborghs, Jason Kindrachuk, Nicola Low, Miles W Carroll, Áine O'Toole, Piet Maes, Koen Vercauteren, Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, Krutika Kuppalli, Andrew Rambaut, Tony Wawina-Bokalanga, Placide Mbala-Kingebeni

Published in

Nature communications. Volume 17. Issue 1. Sep 04, 2026. Epub Sep 04, 2026.

Abstract

On 4 September 2025, the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare officially declared the 16^th 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.

PMID:
42834057
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 06 Oct 2026.

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