Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have confirmed at least 80 deaths linked to a fresh outbreak of Ebola, as health officials work urgently to strengthen screening measures and trace contacts in a bid to contain the deadly virus.
The outbreak, which marks the country’s seventeenth Ebola epidemic, has so far resulted in nearly 250 suspected cases across eastern parts of the country, according to the Ministry of Health. One related death has also been recorded in neighbouring Uganda, raising fears of cross-border transmission.
Speaking on Saturday, Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba warned that the Bundibugyo strain involved in the outbreak presents a major challenge due to the absence of an approved vaccine or targeted treatment.
“The Bundibugyo strain has no vaccine and no specific treatment,” Kamba stated, adding that the strain carries a fatality rate that can reach up to 50 percent.
The outbreak was officially confirmed on Friday in Ituri Province, located in northeastern DRC near the borders with Uganda and South Sudan. Health authorities initially reported 65 suspected deaths before revising the figure upward to 80 a day later.
Officials said the suspected index case was a nurse who sought treatment at a health facility in Bunia, the provincial capital, on April 24 after developing symptoms consistent with Ebola.
The virus has since been detected in three health zones in Ituri, including Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongwalu, where most confirmed infections have been concentrated.
Laboratory testing remains limited, with only 13 blood samples analysed by the National Institute of Biomedical Research. Of those, eight tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain, while five could not be processed due to inadequate sample volumes.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has expressed concern that the outbreak could spread rapidly because of dense populations in affected communities and the region’s proximity to international borders.
The agency also highlighted the high level of cross-border movement between the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan, alongside logistical difficulties facing containment efforts.
International humanitarian organisations, including Médecins Sans Frontières and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, have joined response operations in the affected areas.
MSF emergency programme manager Trish Newport described the pace of the outbreak as alarming.
“The number of cases and deaths recorded within such a short period, combined with the spread across multiple health zones and across borders, is extremely concerning,” she said.
IFRC Secretary-General Jagan Chapagain stressed the importance of coordinated regional action and public trust in stopping the outbreak.
The evolving epidemiological situation and the risk of cross-border transmission underscore the need for timely and sustained intervention,” Chapagain said. “Community engagement and trust-building remain critical to ensuring early treatment and preventing further spread of the disease.
