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WHO raises alarm over Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo
The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri province as a public health emergency of international concern, citing risks of wider regional spread.
Current outbreak details
As of May 2026, health authorities have reported 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths in Ituri province. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain, has no approved vaccines or treatments. Early symptoms include fever, muscle pain, and fatigue, progressing to vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, and internal bleeding.
Eight cases have been laboratory-confirmed, with infections detected across three health zones: Bunia (Ituri's capital), and the gold-mining hubs of Mongwalu and Rwampara. One confirmed case has also emerged in the national capital, Kinshasa, involving a patient who recently traveled from Ituri.
Regional spread and risks
The outbreak has crossed borders, with two confirmed cases in Uganda. Ugandan officials confirmed the death of a 59-year-old Congolese man who tested positive for Ebola. His body was repatriated to DR Congo.
The WHO warned that the outbreak could be "much larger" than reported due to underdetection, driven by security instability, high population mobility, and informal healthcare facilities in affected areas. Neighboring countries face elevated risks due to cross-border trade and travel.
Response measures
The WHO has urged DR Congo and Uganda to establish emergency operation centers to track cases, enforce infection controls, and trace contacts. Confirmed patients must be isolated until two consecutive negative tests-spaced 48 hours apart-are obtained.
Bordering nations have been advised to enhance surveillance and health reporting, though the WHO emphasized that travel or trade restrictions lack scientific justification and should be avoided.
"There are significant uncertainties about the true scale and geographic spread of this outbreak," said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Historical context and mortality
Ebola, first identified in DR Congo in 1976, spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids and causes severe bleeding and organ failure. The average fatality rate is 50%, with no proven cure. This marks the country's 17th outbreak of the disease.
The deadliest recent outbreak (2018-2020) killed nearly 2,300 people. Last year, a smaller outbreak in a remote region claimed 45 lives. Over the past five decades, Ebola has killed approximately 15,000 people across Africa.
The Africa CDC has highlighted risks posed by urban transmission in Bunia and Rwampara and mining activities in Mongwalu, stressing the need for regional coordination to curb spread.
