Africa CDC Convenes Emergency Summit as Ebola Outbreak Hits Ituri Province
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths in the volatile Ituri region, prompting urgent talks with neighbouring states to contain the virus.
Health authorities have escalated concerns over a new Ebola virus outbreak in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has recorded 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths. Preliminary laboratory results have confirmed the presence of the virus in 13 of 20 samples tested, with four deaths among the laboratory-confirmed cases and further suspected cases reported in the provincial capital, Bunia, pending verification.
The outbreak presents significant governance and logistical challenges, exacerbated by a precarious security environment and intense population movement across borders with Uganda and South Sudan. The DRC government continues to struggle with securing the eastern region due to persistent activity by armed groups seeking control of valuable mineral deposits, a situation that complicates public health interventions and limits access to affected communities.
In response to these compounding risks, the Africa CDC is convening an urgent high-level meeting with health authorities from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan, alongside key partners including United Nations agencies. The summit aims to reinforce cross-border surveillance, preparedness, and response efforts, addressing immediate priorities such as laboratory support, infection prevention, risk communication, and resource mobilisation.
This development occurs approximately five months after the DRC’s previous Ebola outbreak was declared over, which resulted in 43 fatalities. The region’s history of instability has historically hindered containment efforts; the eastern DRC has been plagued for decades by armed groups, and last week alone saw an attack by rebels in Ituri province that killed at least 69 people. The Africa CDC has highlighted that the combination of poor road networks, remote geography, and ongoing conflict increases the risk of rapid viral spread.
Ebola, a highly contagious disease spread through direct contact with bodily fluids, causes severe bleeding and organ failure. The current outbreak follows a pattern of recurring health crises in the region, with the DRC experiencing more than a dozen outbreaks since the virus was first identified in 1976. The deadliest previous outbreak occurred between 2018 and 2020, killing nearly 2,300 people, underscoring the persistent vulnerability of the region’s health infrastructure and security apparatus.
