A new Ebola outbreak is confirmed in a remote Congo province, with 65 deaths recorded
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- Africa CDC has confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in Congo's Ituri province, reporting 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths, primarily in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones.
- Four deaths have been confirmed among laboratory-verified cases, with suspected cases also reported in Bunia, the provincial capital near the Uganda border.
- Preliminary tests detected the Ebola virus in 13 of 20 samples, raising concerns about further spread due to population movement, mining activities, insecurity, and challenges in contact tracing.
- The outbreak is Congo's 17th since 1976, following a recent outbreak that ended five months ago with 43 deaths; the region's ongoing conflict with armed groups complicates response efforts.
- Africa CDC is coordinating a high-level meeting with health authorities from Congo, Uganda, South Sudan, and international partners to address response priorities, cross-border coordination, and resource mobilization.