A deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has spread into parts of South Kivu province controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia, raising fresh concerns about the growing reach of the disease across eastern Congo.
New Case Confirmed in M23 Territory
The latest outbreak of the highly contagious hemorrhagic fever has already been declared an international health emergency by the World Health Organization and is believed to have killed more than 130 people. According to an M23 spokesperson, tests confirm a new positive case linked to Bukavu in South Kivu province, an area seized by the armed group in February 2025.
The person, a 28-year-old compatriot, unfortunately succumbed to the disease before the diagnosis was confirmed, the spokesperson said, adding that the burial was carried out in strict compliance with safety standards. The victim had traveled from Kisangani in Tshopo province, where no Ebola cases related to the current outbreak had previously been recorded.
Conflict Complicates Response
The outbreak response has been complicated by ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, where fighting between Congolese forces and M23 rebels has divided major parts of North and South Kivu provinces. Health officials say the outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved vaccine or clinical treatment currently exists.
According to the WHO, the Democratic Republic of Congo is now facing its 17th Ebola outbreak, with nearly 600 suspected cases already recorded. Many infections have been concentrated in remote parts of Ituri province, while additional cases have also been confirmed in North Kivu and neighboring areas, where one death has been reported.
Impact on Other Sectors
The crisis has affected other sectors, with the Congolese national football team canceling a planned World Cup training camp in Kinshasa due to fears surrounding the outbreak. Meanwhile, neighboring countries have introduced stricter airport screening measures for passengers arriving from Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda, while some have imposed temporary bans on visitors from affected countries.
The WHO stated that the regional risk from the outbreak remains high, although it currently considers the risk of a global pandemic to be low. Health officials continue to monitor the situation closely as efforts to contain the disease face challenges from both the security situation and the lack of specific medical countermeasures.
