The Democratic Republic of the Congo has declared a fresh Ebola outbreak in its eastern Ituri Province, with 13 confirmed cases linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, the World Health Organization said on Friday.
At least 67 community deaths suspected to be caused by Ebola Bundibugyo have also been reported, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X.
Neighbouring Uganda on Friday reported one confirmed Ebola Bundibugyo death linked to the outbreak in eastern Congo, raising concerns over cross-border transmission.
“The #DRC has declared a new #Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province, with 13 cases so far confirmed to be caused by the Bundibugyo species,” Tedros said. “WHO experts are in Ituri, working side-by-side with DRC health authorities, reinforcing response measures to control the outbreak.”
According to the WHO, this is the 17th recorded Ebola outbreak in Congo since the virus was first identified in 1976 in Yambuku, in Equateur Province. The country’s last Ebola outbreak ended in December 2025.
According to the World Health Organization, Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materials and surfaces. The symptoms of Ebola disease typically begin suddenly with fever, fatigue, general weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is often followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and rash, along with signs of impaired kidney and liver function.
The agency said early detection, timely supportive treatment and swift public health measures are crucial to improving survival rates and containing the spread of the virus.
