DRC Alarms Over Animal Disease Outbreaks in Grand Kasaï Region

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government is concerned by a surge of animal diseases in the Grand Kasaï region.

PPR Outbreak Causes Livestock Loss in Sankuru

The territory of Lusambo in Sankuru province is currently facing a resurgence of Peste des Petits Ruminants, a disease that killed 315 caprins within just five days. Minister Jean-Pierre Tshimanga Bwana reported this during a Council of Ministers meeting on July 10, 2026.

The crisis extends beyond Lusambo. The situation is deteriorating in several neighboring provinces, including Kasaï, Kasaï-Central, Kasaï-Oriental, and Lomami. Minister Tshimanga Bwana stated that the decimation of livestock and poultry is accentuating the impoverishment of the population.

Rabies Outbreak Linked to Over 30 Human Deaths

While livestock diseases threaten the economy, the authorities are alerting on the risks linked to the propagation of certain transmissible diseases. According to the official government report, canine rabies has already caused more than 30 deaths among the human population.

The government aims to implement a coordinated and durable response to safeguard human lives while simultaneously protecting the remaining animal population.

Government Strategy for Veterinary Crisis Management

To halt the spread of these epizootics, the DRC government is accelerating the second phase of its national vaccination campaign. The strategy focuses on:

• Immediate Immunization: Rapid rollout of vaccines against the most prevalent animal pathologies to protect the residual herd.
• Surveillance Strengthening: Enhancing the national animal disease monitoring system to detect new outbreaks faster.
• Food Security Protection: Preserving livestock to stabilize household incomes and ensure regional food security.

Broader Health Context: Animal Diseases Amidst Ebola Outbreaks

This veterinary crisis occurs while the DRC is simultaneously managing its 17th outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in the eastern part of the country. This situation reminds of the importance of strengthening prevention and response mechanisms for both animal and human health threats.

The DRC government maintains that a “global and durable solution” is imperative to prevent further socio-economic losses.