Africa's top health agency has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern Ituri province. Around 246 cases and 80 deaths have been reported, mainly in the gold-mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara, said the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
On Friday, Ugandan officials confirmed one case of imported Ebola from DR Congo. A 59-year-old male who died on Thursday had tested positive for the virus.
Ebola, first discovered in 1976 in what is now DR Congo, is believed to have spread from bats. This outbreak marks the 17th recorded in the country and is transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, causing severe symptoms including bleeding and organ failure.
Initial symptoms include fever, muscle pain, fatigue, headache, and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and bleeding. While no proven cure exists, the World Health Organization indicates an average fatality rate of around 50%.
Preliminary tests have detected the virus in 13 of 20 samples tested in Kinshasa, and efforts are underway to identify the strain. Concerns have been raised about the potential for further spread due to the urban context of the affected areas and significant population movement in and out of these regions.
While the Congolese government has yet to officially declare the outbreak, a press conference is anticipated. Health officials are coordinating with regional partners, including neighboring Uganda and South Sudan, to discuss response strategies and cross-border surveillance.
DR Congo has experienced its deadliest Ebola outbreak between 2018 and 2020, claiming nearly 2,300 lives. Last year, 45 people died in a separate outbreak in Bulape, Kasai province.
