Ebola outbreak declared in DR Congo

A fatal Ebola outbreak has been announced in Ituri province, located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The area has been affected by armed conflict, according to African health authorities on Friday.

Laboratory testing has confirmed four deaths directly linked to the virus. In total, 246 suspected cases have been reported, of which 65 have died, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

“Ebola Virus Disease outbreak confirmed in Ituri Province,” the Africa CDC stated.

Ebola, first identified in 1976 and thought to originate from bats, is a lethal viral disease that spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids. It can cause severe bleeding and organ failure.

Over the past five decades, the highly contagious haemorrhagic fever has killed an estimated 15,000 people in Africa, despite advances in vaccines and treatments.

The most severe Ebola outbreak in the DRC, which occurred between 2018 and 2020, resulted in nearly 2,300 deaths.

Results from 13 of 20 samples tested in Kinshasa, the DRC capital, indicated that “four deaths have been reported among laboratory-confirmed cases.”

Initial findings also “suggest a non‑Zaire ebolavirus” strain, but further sequencing is underway, with results expected within 24 hours.

The Zaire ebolavirus, the most lethal strain with a case‑fatality rate of 80 to 90 percent, is the only variant for which an approved vaccine is currently available.

The agency said it was “closely monitoring the situation and convening an urgent high‑level coordination meeting today with the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan and global partners to reinforce cross‑border surveillance, preparedness and outbreak response efforts.”

– Spread –

The agency expressed concern that the outbreak could spread further due to high population movement, insecurity in affected areas, and the proximity of these areas to Uganda and South Sudan.

“Rapid regional coordination is essential,” said Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC.

The first cases were reported in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, each serving around 150,000 residents.

Mongwalu lies about 90 kilometres (56 miles) from Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri, while Rwampara borders the Bunia urban area.

Additional cases have also been identified in Bunia, which has an estimated population of 300,000, and are pending confirmation.

This outbreak is the 17th in the DRC since the virus was first detected in the country.

It follows a recent outbreak in August in the central region that killed at least 34 people before being declared eradicated in December.

Guinea, Uganda and Sierra Leone have also experienced Ebola outbreaks in recent years.

The virus becomes contagious only after symptoms appear, following an incubation period of two to 21 days.

The eastern DRC has endured violence for more than thirty years.

In Ituri province, a gold‑rich area bordering Uganda, recurrent clashes involving local militias have persisted for years.

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