Congo, DRC — The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is addressing its 17th Ebola outbreak, with confirmed cases reaching 1,307, including 377 fatalities, as of June 2026.
The epidemic, attributed to the Bundibugyo virus, has now spread to Haut — Uele province, bordering South Sudan and the Central African Republic, marking a significant geographical expansion.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), emphasizing the critical need for global cooperation to manage the situation effectively.
The DRC’s National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) is working diligently to trace the virus’s transmission chain and identify contacts.
However, the outbreak’s current trajectory is particularly challenging due to the absence of a vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
The remote and densely populated regions, coupled with ongoing insecurity, high population movements, and a humanitarian crisis, have exacerbated the response efforts.
In the conflict — affected province of Ituri, where the outbreak began in May, health workers are facing severe shortages of protective gear, medicines, rapid test kits, and body bags.
The situation is further complicated by local distrust of aid workers and facilities, with attacks on treatment centers and fires set to tents. “They need more of everything: protective gear, medicines, rapid test kits … and body bags, “an anonymous source reported.
In response to the crisis, the World Bank Group is providing financial support to save lives, contain the spread of disease, protect frontline health workers and communities, and preserve essential health services.
As the Ebola outbreak continues to unfold in the DRC, the international community is closely monitoring the situation, hoping for a swift and effective response to prevent further loss of life and the spread of the virus.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: aljazeera
Source: Al Jazeera Staff, AFP and AP
