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An outbreak of the Ebola virus has been confirmed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, raising fresh concerns across the region as health authorities move to contain the spread of the deadly disease.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC ), the outbreak was confirmed in Ituri Province, an area that has previously experienced Ebola cases.
In a statement released Friday, the agency said at least 246 suspected infections and 65 deaths have already been reported. It also confirmed that “four deaths have been reported among laboratory-confirmed cases.”
Africa CDC said it is intensifying coordination efforts with neighbouring countries and international partners to prevent the virus from spreading beyond the affected area. The agency stated that it is “closely monitoring the situation” and has convened “an urgent high-level coordination meeting” involving authorities from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, South Sudan, and global health partners.
The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening cross-border surveillance, emergency preparedness, and rapid outbreak response measures.
Ebola is a severe viral disease first identified in 1976. Scientists believe the virus originally crossed from animals to humans, with bats widely considered the likely source. The disease spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons and can lead to severe bleeding, organ failure, and death.
Over the past five decades, Ebola outbreaks across Africa have claimed an estimated 15,000 lives, according to health authorities.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has experienced several outbreaks over the years, including one of the deadliest between 2018 and 2020, which killed nearly 2,300 people.
The latest outbreak has renewed concerns about the region’s healthcare capacity and the need for swift containment efforts to prevent another large-scale health emergency.
