Written by: Badr Ahmed

The Ituri region in the Republic of Congo Democracy is on heightened health alert following the confirmation of an Ebola virus outbreak, amid fears that the infection could spread to neighboring countries in East and Central Africa.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced that it is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with Congolese authorities and international partners, with the aim of supporting an urgent and coordinated response to curb the spread of the disease.

Fears of Ebola spreading to Uganda and South Sudan as infections rise

Preliminary laboratory results from the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) in the Democratic Republic of Congo have revealed the presence of the Ebola virus in 13 out of 20 samples analyzed so far. Initial tests indicate that the detected strain does not belong to the known Ebola Zaire type, while genetic sequencing continues to precisely determine the nature and characteristics of the new strain.

According to health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, approximately 246 suspected cases have been recorded, along with 65 deaths linked to the outbreak, primarily concentrated in the Mongoyalo and Rwambara health districts. Reports also confirmed four deaths among those who tested positive for the virus, while additional suspected cases have been reported in the city of Bunia, pending final test results.

The current outbreak is raising increasing concerns among African and international health institutions, especially given the presence of factors that could accelerate transmission, including high population density in urban areas such as Bunia and Rwambara, as well as the continuous movement of people and migrations related to mining activities in the Mongwalu region, which is an area of intense economic activity.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) also warned that the unstable security situation in the affected areas is hindering health response efforts, including contact tracing and the implementation of infection prevention and control measures. Concerns are heightened by the proximity of the affected areas to the borders with Uganda and South Sudan, increasing the likelihood of cross-border transmission of the virus if health surveillance measures are not strengthened quickly.

Local and international health authorities continue to intensify their efforts to contain the outbreak, amid calls to strengthen medical and logistical support, and to accelerate diagnosis and contact tracing, to prevent the crisis from turning into a widespread regional threat.