New Ebola Outbreak Declared in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo After 65 Deaths
Africa’s leading public health agency has declared a new Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), where at least 65 people have died and hundreds of suspected cases have been reported.
The outbreak is centred in Ituri province, particularly in the gold-mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). Officials say around 246 suspected and confirmed cases have been identified so far.
Ugandan authorities also confirmed an imported Ebola case linked to DR Congo. A 59-year-old Congolese man who was admitted to a hospital in Kampala died on Thursday after testing positive for the virus.
Ebola is a highly infectious viral disease first identified in 1976 in what is now DR Congo. Scientists believe the virus originally spread from bats. This latest outbreak marks the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in the country.
The disease spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces and can lead to severe internal bleeding, organ failure, and death.
Symptoms typically begin with fever, muscle pain, fatigue, headache, and sore throat before progressing to vomiting, diarrhoea, rashes, and bleeding.
According to the World Health Organization, Ebola’s average fatality rate is around 50%, although it can vary depending on the outbreak and access to treatment.
Laboratory testing conducted at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in Kinshasa confirmed the presence of the Ebola virus in 13 out of 20 samples analysed. Further tests are underway to determine the exact strain responsible for the outbreak.
Health officials expressed concern over the possibility of the virus spreading further due to heavy population movement in the region and cross-border travel with neighbouring countries including Uganda and South Sudan.
Africa CDC Executive Director Dr Jean Kaseya warned that mining activities and crowded urban settings in affected areas increase the risk of transmission.
Authorities are also investigating additional suspected cases in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province.
The Congolese government has not yet officially declared a national outbreak, although a formal announcement is expected.
Meanwhile, regional health agencies and international partners are coordinating response efforts, including emergency surveillance and cross-border monitoring.
DR Congo has experienced several major Ebola outbreaks over the past decades. The country’s deadliest outbreak occurred between 2018 and 2020, when nearly 2,300 people died.
Last year, another Ebola outbreak in the Kasai province claimed 45 lives.
