KINSHASA – A new Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has raised concerns over possible regional spread after health authorities reported 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected community deaths in the conflict-hit Ituri Province bordering Uganda and South Sudan, while Uganda has also confirmed an imported case involving a Congolese national.
The Congolese government said late Friday that laboratory tests had confirmed 13 cases of the Ebola virus caused by the Bundibugyo strain, first identified in western Uganda in 2007. The presumed index case, a nurse in the Rwampara health zone, died after developing symptoms including fever, bleeding, vomiting and severe weakness. Currently licensed Ebola vaccines mainly target the Zaire strain.
Warning signs
The confirmation followed weeks of unusual deaths in Mongwalu, said local media outlet ACTUALITE.CD, citing a field report issued by the DRC health ministry dated May 13.
The report found that 55 patients died at the Mongwalu General Referral Hospital between April 1 and May 13, while mortality in the internal medicine ward rose from 9 percent in April to 31 percent in May.
The same report also documented a cluster of 15 deaths in one family, some after a family gathering in Ituri's capital Bunia, with patients showing similar symptoms, including fever, headaches and vomiting. Initial tests reportedly ruled out Ebola Zaire and several other infectious diseases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday that it had received an alert on May 5 about suspected cases and had since deployed a mission to Ituri to support investigations that led to confirmation of the outbreak.
Cross-border risk
Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) warned of a risk of further spread due to the urban context of Bunia and Rwampara, intense population movement, mining-related mobility in Mongwalu, insecurity in affected areas, gaps in contact tracing, infection prevention and control challenges, and the proximity of affected areas to Uganda and South Sudan.
Ituri has long been affected by armed violence, displacement and fragile health services. In parts of the province, insecurity and poor road access can slow case detection, contact tracing, safe burials and the delivery of medical supplies.
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The cross-border risk was underscored after Uganda confirmed an imported case involving a 59-year-old Congolese man who died in Kampala on Thursday and tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain.
"This is an imported case from the DRC. The country is yet to confirm a local case," said Diana Atwine, permanent secretary at Uganda's Ministry of Health.
Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC, said rapid regional coordination was essential due to significant population movements between affected areas and neighboring countries.
Africa CDC said it convened an urgent meeting on Friday with health authorities from the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan, as well as key international partners, in response to the latest outbreak.
Recurring outbreaks
The Ebola virus is highly contagious and can cause symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, generalized pain or malaise, and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding. According to the WHO, Ebola fatality rates vary, depending on the viral subtype.
This marks the 17th recorded outbreak of Ebola disease in the DRC since the virus was first identified in 1976. The last outbreak ended in December 2025 after recording 64 cases and 45 deaths.
"The DRC has extensive experience responding to Ebola outbreaks, and WHO is rapidly scaling up support to the ongoing response," Mohamed Janabi, WHO regional director for Africa, said on Friday.
"Working closely with national authorities and partners, we are mobilizing swiftly, deploying additional expertise and resources to halt the spread of the virus, protect and save lives."
