Kinshasa, DRC — Ebola Outbreak Spreads Amidst Conflict and Pandemic Concerns The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is addressing another Ebola outbreak, declared on September 4, 2025, in Kasai Province.
As of May 15, 2026, the situation has worsened, with at least 65 reported deaths and 246 suspected cases in Ituri province.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has expressed deep concern over the potential spread of the virus, citing intense population movement, ongoing conflict in affected areas, and control challenges.
Ebola virus disease (EVD) has repeatedly threatened the DRC, with the country experiencing 16 outbreaks since the disease was first identified in 1976.
The 2014 outbreak in West Africa was the largest ever, infecting over 28,000 people and resulting in over 11,000 deaths.
The DRC’s health care systems have been further strained by years of civil war and are often understaffed and under-equipped to handle such outbreaks.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has expressed deep concern over the speed and severity of the outbreak, emphasizing the vulnerability of communities, especially in light of the ongoing conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The IRC has previously been at the forefront of the fight against the Ebola virus during the 2014 outbreak in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and it is now preparing to respond to the latest crisis in the DRC.
The Africa CDC has highlighted the risk of rapid spread due to population movement, violence, and control challenges, indicating the complexity of the situation.
The agency has convened a meeting with DRC, neighboring Uganda and South Sudan, and other international partners to discuss priorities, including response efforts and cross — border surveillance.
The latest outbreak comes around five months after Congo’s last Ebola outbreak was declared over after 43 deaths. Ituri, the province affected by the current outbreak, is characterized by poor road networks and is more than 1,000 kilometers from the nation’s capital of Kinshasa.
The proximity of affected areas to Uganda and South Sudan also raises concerns about the potential spread of the virus across borders.
The Ebola virus is highly contagious and can be contracted through direct contact with bodily fluids and through broken skin. Early symptoms include fever, muscle pain, fatigue, headache, and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, a rash, and bleeding.
As the DRC deals with this new Ebola outbreak, the international community is watching closely, hoping for a swift and effective response to prevent the disease from spreading further.
The situation underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the DRC’s health care system and the need for continued support from the global community in efforts to combat infectious diseases.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
—
This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: reliefweb
Source: International Rescue Committee
