CDC Africa declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo’s Ituri province as death toll rises

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Africa) has officially declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern Ituri province, reporting approximately 246 cases and 65 deaths. The outbreak is concentrated in the gold-mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara, with additional suspected cases identified in the provincial capital, Bunia, where laboratory confirmation is pending.

Preliminary testing at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in Kinshasa has detected the virus in 13 of 20 samples analysed. Of the 65 reported fatalities, four were among cases confirmed by laboratory tests. The CDC Africa statement follows consultations with the DR Congo’s Ministry of Health and the National Public Institute, though the Congolese government has not yet issued an official declaration. A government staffer indicated that a press conference to formally announce the outbreak was expected on Friday.

In response to the growing crisis, the CDC Africa is convening a meeting with the DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan, and other international partners. The primary focus of these discussions will be coordinating response efforts and establishing robust cross-border surveillance mechanisms to prevent the virus from spreading beyond the affected region.

The security landscape in Ituri presents significant challenges for public health interventions. Since 2021, the province has been under military rule, with a military general replacing civilian authority to combat numerous armed groups. These include the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an affiliate of the Islamic State group, which has operated in the area for many years. The ongoing instability complicates access for health workers and containment teams.

This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo since the virus was first identified in the region in 1976. Transmission occurs through direct contact with bodily fluids, leading to severe symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and organ failure. Historically, the disease has been devastating; around 50,000 people have died across Africa over the past 50 years, with the DR Congo’s deadliest outbreak between 2018 and 2020 claiming nearly 2,300 lives.