A fresh outbreak of Ebola has emerged in the eastern Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with authorities confirming 65 deaths so far. The country’s health ministry said the outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba confirmed on Friday that laboratory tests detected eight positive cases in the health zones of Rwampara, Mongwalu and Bunia. Officials have identified 246 suspected cases so far.
What Is Ebola?
Ebola virus disease is a severe and often deadly illness commonly found in Congo’s tropical forest regions. According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected people, contaminated surfaces or individuals who died from the disease.
Authorities believe the suspected first patient in the latest outbreak was a nurse at the Evangelical Medical Centre in Bunia. The nurse later died after developing symptoms including fever, vomiting, bleeding and extreme weakness.
Most Cases Reported in Mongwalu and Rwampara
Health officials said most suspected infections and deaths have been reported in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones. Authorities also confirmed four deaths among laboratory-confirmed Ebola cases. Additional suspected infections have appeared in Bunia, the provincial capital.
The Africa CDC officially confirmed the outbreak on Friday and immediately launched emergency coordination efforts with neighbouring countries including Uganda and South Sudan.
Concerns Grow Over New Ebola Strain
According to a Reuters report, preliminary findings suggest the outbreak may involve a non-Zaire strain of the Ebola virus.
Jean-Jacques Muyembe, the scientist who co-discovered Ebola and currently heads Congo’s National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa, said 15 of Congo’s previous 16 outbreaks involved the Zaire strain.
Experts warned that identifying a different strain could create major challenges because existing vaccines and treatments mainly target the Zaire variant. The Africa CDC also expressed concern over the risk of wider transmission because the affected areas experience heavy movement of people linked to mining activities and cross-border travel.
“Africa CDC is concerned about the risk of further spread due to the urban context of Bunia and Rwampara” as well as “intense population movement” near Uganda and South Sudan, the agency said.
“Given the high population movement between affected areas and neighbouring countries, rapid regional coordination is essential,” Africa CDC director general Jean Kaseya said.
Uganda Reports Imported Ebola Death
Meanwhile, Uganda’s health ministry reported that a Congolese man infected with the Bundibugyo strain died in Kampala. Officials said the infection originated in Congo and confirmed that no local transmission has been detected in Uganda so far.
WHO Confirms Rising Number of Positive Cases
The World Health Organization first learned about suspected Ebola cases on May 5 and quickly sent a team to Ituri province to assist investigations. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said early field samples initially tested negative. However, a laboratory in Kinshasa later confirmed positive Ebola cases on Thursday.
The total number of confirmed infections has now increased to 13. Tedros said the WHO released $500,000 from its emergency contingency fund to support contact tracing, surveillance, laboratory testing and medical care.
Violence in Ituri Worsens Health Crisis
The outbreak has hit Ituri province at a time when the region is already facing growing violence. Recent clashes between rival militia groups have killed dozens of civilians and disrupted healthcare services across the province.
Earlier this month, Médecins Sans Frontières warned that violence had overwhelmed many hospitals and left some health facilities non-functional. The organisation also warned that poor sanitation and overcrowding in displacement camps could increase the risk of infectious disease outbreaks.
This is Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in the country in 1976. The country’s previous outbreak, which occurred in Kasai province, ended on December 1 after three months. That outbreak recorded 64 cases, including 45 deaths and 19 recoveries.