New Ebola Outbreak Hits DR Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo is battling a fresh Ebola outbreak, with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reporting 246 suspected infections and 65 deaths so far. The continent's top public health body confirmed the outbreak on Friday in Congo's remote Ituri province.
According to the Africa CDC, four deaths have been reported among laboratory-confirmed cases. Suspected cases have also been reported in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, near the border with Uganda. Preliminary laboratory results have detected the Ebola virus in 13 of 20 samples tested.
This latest outbreak comes approximately five months after Congo's previous Ebola outbreak was declared over, which had resulted in 43 deaths. Ituri is located in a remote eastern part of Congo characterized by poor road networks, more than 1,000 kilometers from the nation's capital of Kinshasa.
The Africa CDC expressed concern about the risk of further spread due to intense population movement, mining-related mobility in Mongwalu, insecurity in affected areas, gaps in contact listing, and control challenges.
Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, stated: "Given the high population movement between affected areas and neighbouring countries, rapid regional coordination is essential. We are working with DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, and partners to strengthen surveillance, preparedness, and response, and to help contain the outbreak as quickly as possible."
The agency is convening an urgent high-level coordination meeting on Friday with health authorities from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, together with key partners, including United Nations agencies. The meeting will focus on immediate response priorities, cross-border coordination, surveillance, laboratory support, infection prevention and control, risk communication, safe and dignified burials, and resource mobilisation.
The health agency is urging communities in affected and at-risk areas to report symptoms promptly, avoid direct contact with suspected cases, support response teams working to protect communities, and follow guidance from national health authorities. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in Congo since the disease first emerged in the country in 1976.
The Ebola virus is highly contagious and can be contracted through bodily fluids such as vomit, blood, or semen. The disease it causes is rare but severe and often fatal.
