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Brazzaville
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Nation / PlaceCG

Brazzaville

Capital of the Republic of the Congo, across the river from Kinshasa.

Africa CDC named the Republic of the Congo, Brazzaville's country, among ten at risk of Ebola on 27 September 2026, after DR Congo's outbreak reached Sud-Ubangi, across the Ubangi river.

Last refreshed: 4 October 2026

Timeline for Brazzaville

#14 10 Sept

Mentioned in: Ebola reaches Sud-Ubangi by river boat

Pandemics and Biosecurity
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Background

Brazzaville is the capital of the Republic of the Congo. It stands on the Congo river directly opposite Kinshasa, DR Congo's capital, so outbreaks in DR Congo's river provinces carry an obvious route towards it.

Brazzaville has featured in WHO's downriver Ebola warnings before, in 2018. When Ebola reached Mbandaka on the Congo river in May 2018, WHO named Brazzaville, with Kinshasa, among the cities downriver at risk. The capital was spared: the Zaire ebolavirus outbreak, contained with an experimental vaccine, ended in July 2018 short of both cities.

The 2026 epidemic is caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus, which has no licensed vaccine or treatment. That leaves Brazzaville's defences resting on infection control in its hospitals and on surveillance of river and border traffic.

Key Issues
Ebola preparedness

Ebola risk reaches the Republic's border

For the Republic of the Congo, the Bundibugyo Ebola epidemic became a border problem in September 2026. Sud-Ubangi, which faces it across the Ubangi river, went into outbreak status on 10 September; by 1 October its confirmed count stood at two. On 27 September Africa CDC's Jean Kaseya put the Republic of the Congo among ten countries at risk.

Brazzaville had started preparing before the virus came near. In June 2026, with no cases in the country, the health ministry and WHO trained 55 staff from the capital's hospitals in infection prevention and control at the city's university hospital. River traffic is the route of concern: the Sud-Ubangi case itself arrived by boat from Kisangani, about 1,000 km upriver.

Common Questions
Is Brazzaville at risk from DR Congo's Ebola outbreak?
Africa CDC lists the Republic of the Congo among ten countries at risk after Ebola reached Sud-Ubangi, which borders it across the Ubangi river, in September 2026.Source: Africa CDC
How is Brazzaville preparing for Ebola?
In June 2026 the health ministry and WHO trained 55 staff from Brazzaville hospitals in infection prevention and control at the city's university hospital.Source: https://afro.who.int/fr/countries/congo/news/preparation-ebola-55-agents-de-sante-formes-la-prevention-des-infections
Did Ebola reach Brazzaville in 2018?
No. WHO warned of spread down the Congo river after Ebola reached Mbandaka in May 2018, but the outbreak ended in July 2018 without reaching Kinshasa or Brazzaville.Source: WHO
Source Material
Préparation Ebola : 55 agents de santé formés