(MENAFN) The Ebola outbreak in southern Democratic Republic of Congo is exhibiting “signs of a notable decline in transmission,” the World Health Organization (WHO) reported Wednesday.

In its latest situation update, the WHO Regional Office for Africa highlighted a recent drop in new infections among children over the past two weeks.

“A decreasing case fatality ratio (CFR) trend has been observed over time with improvement in surveillance and the quality of case management,” the report stated.

As of September 28, the Bulape Health Zone in Kasai Province has recorded 64 Ebola cases — 53 confirmed and 11 probable — along with 42 deaths (31 confirmed, 11 probable).

Congo’s health officials declared the nation’s 16th Ebola outbreak on September 4 in Kasai Province, bordering Angola.

Since then, nine patients have been discharged, while 13 remain hospitalized and under treatment.

The overall case fatality ratio currently stands at 65.6%.

Among those infected, five confirmed cases involved healthcare workers, with three fatalities reported, according to WHO.

Women constitute the majority of cases at 57.8%, while children aged 0-9 years represent 25.0% of infections.

The outbreak remains limited to six of the 21 health areas within the Bulape Health Zone.

Ebola virus disease is a severe and often deadly illness transmitted initially through close contact with infected wildlife and subsequently through human-to-human transmission.

MENAFN02102025000045017169ID1110141071