Democratic Republic of the Congo has confirmed a fresh outbreak of Ebola in its eastern Ituri province, with at least 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases already recorded, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Gatekeepers News reports that the outbreak is concentrated mainly in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, while additional suspected cases have also been reported in Bunia, the provincial capital. Health officials said laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the virus in several samples, with investigations still ongoing to determine the exact strain involved.
Authorities expressed concern over the possibility of the disease spreading across borders due to population movement and insecurity in the region. Neighboring Uganda has already confirmed one imported Ebola-related death linked to a traveler from Congo.
Africa CDC and the World Health Organization are coordinating emergency response efforts with Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, focusing on surveillance, contact tracing, safe burials, and cross-border monitoring.
Ebola is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids and contaminated materials. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, and in severe cases, internal bleeding.
