Africa CDC Confirms Ebola Outbreak in Congo's Ituri Province

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in Congo's remote Ituri province, with 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths recorded so far. The majority of the cases and fatalities have been reported in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, according to Africa CDC.

The outbreak has raised concerns due to intense population movement, mining-related mobility in Mongwalu, insecurity in affected areas, and gaps in contact tracing. Preliminary laboratory results have detected the Ebola virus in 13 of 20 samples tested, with four deaths reported among lab-confirmed cases. Additional suspected cases have been reported in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, pending confirmation.

The latest outbreak comes around five months after Congo's last Ebola outbreak was declared, which resulted in 43 deaths. Ituri is a remote eastern part of Congo characterized by poor road networks and is more than 620 miles from the nation's capital, Kinshasa. The proximity of affected areas to Uganda and South Sudan also raises concerns about cross-border spread.

Africa CDC is convening an urgent high-level coordination meeting with health authorities from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, together with key partners including U.N. agencies and other countries. The meeting will focus on immediate response priorities, cross-border coordination, surveillance, laboratory support, infection prevention and control, risk communication, safe and dignified burials, and resource mobilization.