Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has linked 65 deaths to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- +Africa CDC links 65 deaths to Ebola outbreak in DR Congo
It warned that the situation, already complicated by intense population movement and insecurity, could spread beyond affected areas if not swiftly contained.
It warned that the situation, already complicated by intense population movement and insecurity, could spread beyond affected areas if not swiftly contained.
The continental public health agency disclosed this in a statement published on its website on Friday, May 15, 2026, saying it was closely monitoring the confirmed Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Ituri province, eastern DR Congo, while working with national authorities and international partners to coordinate a rapid response.
Ebola Virus Disease is a severe, highly infectious and often fatal illness that spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons, contaminated surfaces or materials, and even the bodies of people who died from the disease.
According to Africa CDC, preliminary laboratory investigations conducted after consultations with the DRC’s Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Institute showed that Ebola virus was detected in 13 out of 20 samples tested by the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale.
The agency added that early findings suggest the outbreak may involve a non-Zaire ebolavirus strain, although further sequencing is still ongoing to fully identify the variant, with final results expected within 24 hours.
Africa CDC also revealed that the outbreak has already triggered hundreds of suspected infections across affected communities.
The agency further warned that several risk factors, particularly the urban nature of Bunia and Rwampara, increasing cross-border movement and insecurity in affected areas, could make containment significantly more difficult.
Africa CDC said it was particularly concerned about mining-related mobility in Mongwalu, gaps in contact tracing efforts, infection prevention challenges and the close proximity of the affected areas to neighbouring Uganda and South Sudan.
As part of efforts to contain the outbreak before it escalates into a wider regional health emergency, Africa CDC said it had convened an urgent high-level coordination meeting on May 15 involving health authorities from DR Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, alongside global health agencies, pharmaceutical companies, financial institutions and humanitarian organisations.
The agency said the emergency meeting includes participation from the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the United States CDC, European CDC, China CDC, Gavi, Médecins Sans Frontières, the World Bank, Afreximbank, Moderna, BioNTech, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine and several other international partners.
Director General of Africa CDC, H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, said the agency was standing in solidarity with the Congolese government and affected communities as efforts intensify to contain the outbreak.
Kaseya stressed that rapid regional coordination had become urgently necessary because of the “high population movement between affected areas and neighbouring countries,” adding that Africa CDC was already working with DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan and development partners to strengthen surveillance, preparedness and emergency response systems.
Africa CDC added that it was preparing additional support across several response pillars, including digital surveillance, laboratory coordination, infection prevention, cross-border preparedness and community engagement, while also assessing possible medical countermeasures once the exact Ebola strain is confirmed.
The 2014 to 2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak remains the largest and deadliest Ebola epidemic ever recorded globally, leaving more than 28,600 people infected and 11,325 dead, mainly across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Over the years, several other major Ebola outbreaks have also occurred in countries such as DR Congo and Uganda, with the virus historically recording fatality rates that, in some outbreaks, climbed as high as 90% before the availability of more advanced treatment options and vaccines.
In 2025, an outbreak in Kasai Province, killed at least 15 deaths, including four health workers, had been recorded as of September 4, 2025.
Health authorities say Ebola spreads mainly through direct contact with bodily fluids, contaminated materials and infected surfaces, making rapid response measures and strict infection control practices extremely important in preventing wider community transmission.
