New Ebola Epidemic Declared in DR Congo's Ituri Province
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has officially declared a new Ebola epidemic in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This announcement was made on Friday in Addis Ababa, highlighting the outbreak in a region already destabilized by armed conflicts. Laboratory tests in Kinshasa confirmed the virus in 13 out of 20 samples, with four deaths reported among these confirmed cases. Additionally, health authorities have recorded 246 suspected cases, resulting in 65 deaths, while further suspected cases in Bunia, the provincial capital, await confirmation. In response, the African Union’s health agency is closely monitoring the situation and convening an urgent high-level coordination meeting with the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, and international partners. The goal is to strengthen cross-border surveillance, enhance preparedness, and coordinate efforts to combat the spread of the hemorrhagic fever. Ebola, which has caused approximately 15,000 deaths in Africa over the past five decades, remains a significant public health threat. The deadliest previous outbreak in the DRC occurred between 2018 and 2020, claiming nearly 2,300 lives.
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