New Ebola Case in South Kivu, DRC

A recent Ebola case has been identified in South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), raising concerns for health officials.

This incident is particularly alarming because it’s located quite far from the main outbreak area, specifically in a rural region controlled by violent rebel groups.

The information about the infection came from rebel factions that hold Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu. Remarkably, these groups have been active since they took control in February 2025.

Currently, the region is governed by a coalition known as the Congo River Alliance (AFC). This federation includes the notorious militant group M23, which has received backing from Rwanda, a neighboring country that doesn’t always have friendly ties with the DRC.

As per the AFC, the Ebola-afflicted individual is a 28-year-old who had traveled from Kisangani, located in northern Congo, to the vicinity of Bukavu. Sadly, the patient succumbed to the virus and was said to have been laid to rest safely. The rebels, however, haven’t shared further details about the individual or their travel history.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) noted that on Thursday, authorities confirmed no Ebola cases had been reported around Kisangani. The primary outbreak remains centered in Ituri province, with other cases also noted in North Kivu.

According to Claude Bahijire, a provincial health spokesperson, South Kivu is dealing with two active Ebola cases currently. One patient’s death was reported by the rebels, while another waits in isolation for test results.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric mentioned that the second Ebola case in South Kivu involves a woman identified as a contact of two individuals who had traveled from Beni to South Kivu the previous week.

This woman was traveling with her two children, aged 7 years and 17 months. Tragically, both the mother and her older child died from the disease, but the 7-month-old is reportedly receiving treatment.

Reports have also surfaced of Ebola cases in Goma, a city in North Kivu near the Ugandan border, which is under the control of Congolese rebels. Residents there have expressed concerns, noting that basic hygiene measures—like handwashing and limiting public gatherings—are not being followed widely.

“It’s too much to ask people who are struggling to eat to follow these rules,” reflected one resident of Goma.