Ebola Outbreak Declared in Eastern DR Congo as Death Toll Rises

Africa’s leading public health agency has declared an Ebola outbreak in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo after hundreds of suspected infections and dozens of deaths were reported in Ituri province.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Africa) announced on Friday that approximately 246 cases and 65 deaths have been recorded, with most infections concentrated in the gold-mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara. The agency said urgent efforts are underway to contain the spread of the deadly virus amid fears of cross-border transmission.

CDC Africa confirmed it would convene emergency discussions involving authorities from DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan, and international health partners to strengthen response measures and improve regional surveillance.

Preliminary laboratory tests carried out by the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in Kinshasa detected the Ebola virus in 13 out of 20 samples analysed. The findings followed consultations with DR Congo’s Ministry of Health and the National Public Institute.

Health officials also reported additional suspected cases in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, though laboratory confirmation is still pending. Of the 65 reported deaths, four occurred among laboratory-confirmed Ebola cases, according to CDC Africa.

Despite the growing concerns, the Congolese government had not officially declared an outbreak as of Friday afternoon. However, local officials indicated that a press conference was expected later in the day.

Ebola is one of the world’s deadliest viral diseases and is spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. The virus attacks the immune system and can cause severe bleeding, organ failure, and death. Early symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle pain, fatigue, and sore throat.

The disease was first identified in 1976 in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo and is believed to have originated from bats. This latest outbreak marks the country’s 17th recorded Ebola outbreak.

Over the past five decades, Ebola outbreaks across Africa have claimed an estimated 50,000 lives. DR Congo has experienced several major outbreaks, including its deadliest between 2018 and 2020, when nearly 2,300 people died. Last year, another outbreak in the central Kasai province resulted in 45 deaths.

Health authorities are now racing to contain the latest outbreak before it spreads further across the region, particularly in areas with high population movement linked to mining and cross-border trade.