A new Ebola outbreak is confirmed in a remote Congo province, with 65 deaths recorded

Key Points:

• Africa’s top public health body confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in Congo’s Ituri province, with 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths mainly in Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones; Uganda reported one imported death from a Congolese patient.
• Preliminary lab results detected a strain different from the usual Ebola Zaire strain, with further sequencing ongoing; this raises concerns as Congo’s stockpile of the Ervebo vaccine is effective only against the Zaire strain.
• The outbreak occurs near borders with Uganda and South Sudan, prompting urgent coordination meetings among regional health authorities and partners to address cross-border surveillance, infection control, and resource mobilization.
• Congo has experienced 17 Ebola outbreaks since 1976, with the recent one following just five months after the previous outbreak ended; ongoing regional insecurity and logistical challenges complicate response efforts.
• The World Health Organization is supporting Congo’s response with funding and expert teams, emphasizing Congo’s strong experience with Ebola control despite difficulties posed by remote locations and armed conflict.