The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has confirmed a new Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, this is the country’s 17th recorded outbreak since the virus was first identified in 1976.
The announcement was made on Friday following consultations with the DRC’s Ministry of Health and National Public Health Institute.
Preliminary laboratory results from the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in Kinshasa detected the Ebola virus in 13 of 20 samples tested.
As of today, approximately 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths have been reported, primarily in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones of Ituri province.
Suspected cases have also been identified in the provincial capital of Bunia. Four deaths have occurred among laboratory-confirmed cases.
Early indications point to a non-Zaire ebolavirus strain, with full genomic sequencing expected within the next 24 hours.
Africa CDC is convening an urgent high-level regional coordination meeting today with health authorities from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan, alongside partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other international organizations.
The focus is on strengthening cross-border surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory capacity, safe burials, and resource mobilization.
Ituri province, located in a remote eastern region with poor road infrastructure, faces heightened risks due to intense population movement linked to mining activities in Mongwalu, urban settings in Rwampara and Bunia, ongoing insecurity from armed groups, and proximity to borders with Uganda and South Sudan.
“Gaps in contact listing and control challenges” have been noted, raising concerns about potential further spread. Despite these challenges, officials emphasize that the DRC’s extensive experience with previous outbreaks positions the country well for containment if support is delivered swiftly.
About the virus
Ebola is a severe, often fatal viral hemorrhagic fever transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people or contaminated materials.
Symptoms typically begin with fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat, progressing in some cases to vomiting, diarrhea, and internal or external bleeding. Early supportive care improves survival rates.
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