Kinshasa: A new outbreak of Ebola has killed at least 80 people in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, prompting fresh health alerts across the region.
The outbreak was confirmed by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which reported around 246 suspected and confirmed cases in Ituri province. Most infections have been recorded in the gold-mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara, areas where health officials fear crowded conditions and movement of workers could accelerate the spread of the virus.
Authorities are also investigating additional suspected cases in Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri, while laboratory testing continues to identify the exact strain of Ebola involved in the outbreak. Ugandan health officials have already confirmed one imported Ebola case linked to the outbreak. A 59-year-old man from DR Congo reportedly died in a hospital in Kampala after testing positive for the virus.
The #DRC has declared a new #Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province, with 13 cases so far confirmed to be caused by the Bundibugyo species. A total of 67 community deaths suspected to be due to Ebola Bundibugyo have been reported. #Uganda has also reported one Ebola Bundibugyo… pic.twitter.com/SoR45kcGSf
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) May 15, 2026
Health experts are concerned about the risk of cross-border transmission due to frequent movement between DR Congo and neighbouring countries including Uganda and South Sudan. Ebola is a severe viral disease spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea, bleeding and organ failure.
According to the World Health Organization, Ebola has an average fatality rate of around 50%, although survival chances improve with early medical care and supportive treatment. This is the 17th recorded Ebola outbreak in DR Congo since the virus was first identified in the country in 1976. The region has faced repeated public health challenges over the years, including conflict, displacement and weak healthcare infrastructure, which complicate outbreak response efforts.
African health officials said emergency coordination meetings are being held with neighbouring countries and international partners to strengthen surveillance, treatment and containment measures. The latest outbreak has renewed concerns over regional preparedness as authorities work to prevent wider transmission across Central and East Africa.
RELATED POST | Ebola outbreak declared in eastern DR Congo’s Ituri province
