Residents in eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are worried after a new Ebola outbreak was reported in Ituri province.
People in towns such as Mongbwalu and Bunia say fear is spreading quickly because the current Ebola strain, called Bundibugyo, does not yet have an approved vaccine or treatment. Many residents are also afraid the outbreak could hurt businesses and daily income in an area already affected by poverty and armed conflict.
The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global health emergency after more than 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths were reported in Congo, along with two deaths in neighboring Uganda.
Most of the cases are in Ituri province, which borders Uganda and South Sudan. Health officials say the first suspected patient, a health worker from Bunia, showed symptoms such as fever, vomiting, and bleeding before dying in April.
Local leaders believe the disease may have spread after a funeral procession from Bunia arrived in Mongbwalu in mid-April. Soon after, many people reportedly became sick and died.
The Congolese government has announced plans to open three Ebola treatment centers in Ituri. The WHO has also sent medical experts and emergency supplies to the area.
Health officials warn that ongoing violence in eastern Congo is making it harder to control the outbreak. Aid groups say the region’s healthcare system is already under pressure because of years of conflict and reduced humanitarian funding.
Ebola is a dangerous viral disease first discovered in Congo in 1976. It spreads through contact with body fluids or contaminated materials and can cause severe bleeding, organ failure, and death.
Scientists are working on possible vaccines for the Bundibugyo strain, with trials expected to begin soon. In the meantime, authorities are focusing on preventive measures such as protecting health workers, isolating patients, and raising public awareness.
This is the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in Congo. The country’s deadliest outbreak happened between 2018 and 2020, killing more than 2,000 people in North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
