DR Congo: The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has declared an Ebola outbreak in the eastern Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, following hundreds of reported cases and dozens of deaths.
According to the Africa CDC, around 246 cases and 65 deaths have been recorded, primarily in the gold-mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara.
The agency stated that it is convening discussions with the governments of DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan, and international partners to coordinate response measures and strengthen cross-border surveillance efforts.
Africa CDC has activated immediate response measures following the confirmation of an Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In coordination with the DRC Ministry of Health, Uganda, South Sudan, and global partners, Africa CDC is… pic.twitter.com/0gZcPuxqwb
— African Union (@_AfricanUnion) May 15, 2026
How Ebola spreads?
Ebola was first identified in 1976 in what is now DR Congo and is believed to have originated from bats. The current outbreak marks the country’s 17th recorded Ebola outbreak.
The virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids and can cause severe bleeding, organ failure, and death. Early symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat. There is currently no cure for Ebola.
Preliminary testing carried out by Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in the capital, Kinshasa, confirmed the presence of the virus in 13 out of 20 analysed samples after consultations with DR Congo’s Ministry of Health and National Public Institute.
Africa CDC stated that four of the 65 deaths occurred among laboratory-confirmed Ebola cases. Authorities have also reported additional suspected infections in Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri, although laboratory confirmation is still pending.
The Congolese government has not yet officially announced the outbreak, but local reports indicated that a press conference was expected later on May 15.
Ituri province has remained under military rule since 2021, when civilian administration was replaced by military leadership in an effort to combat armed groups operating in the region. Among them is the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which is affiliated with the Islamic State group.
Over the past five decades, Ebola outbreaks across Africa have claimed around 50,000 lives. DR Congo experienced its deadliest outbreak between 2018 and 2020, when nearly 2,300 people died. Last year, another outbreak in the central Kasai province resulted in 45 deaths.
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