The World Health Organization has raised alarm over a worsening Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo after dozens of deaths were reported.
World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo a public health emergency of international concern following reports of around 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths in Ituri province.
Health officials said the outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare variant for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments. The virus has already spread across several health zones, including Bunia, Mongwalu, and Rwampara.
The WHO confirmed eight laboratory-tested cases and warned the true scale of the outbreak could be far greater due to insecurity, population movement, and weak healthcare systems in affected areas.
Cases have also crossed borders, with neighbouring Uganda confirming two infections, including a 59-year-old Congolese man who later died.
Ebola causes severe fever, vomiting, bleeding, and organ failure, and spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids. The WHO advised countries in the region to strengthen surveillance, isolate confirmed cases quickly, and improve emergency response systems.
DR Congo has experienced multiple Ebola outbreaks over the past decades, including its deadliest between 2018 and 2020, when nearly 2,300 people died.
The WHO says urgent regional coordination is now critical to prevent the outbreak from escalating further across Central and East Africa.