Ebola Outbreak in Ituri Province, DRC
A new Ebola outbreak has been reported in the remote Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). There are 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths, according to a statement from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Africa CDC has organized an emergency meeting with health officials from DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, and other international partners. The purpose is to coordinate responses and enhance surveillance for possible spread of the disease across borders.
Most cases have been concentrated in two areas of Ituri: Monwar and Rwanpara. Notably, four of the deaths were confirmed cases of Ebola.
Moreover, suspected cases have emerged in Bunia, the capital of Ituri and a rapidly expanding commercial hub, which has a population of around 700,000. The Africa CDC expressed concern about the potential for the virus to spread further due to the urban settings of Bunia and Rwanpara, combined with high population movement and mining activities in Monwar.
Preliminary tests from the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) in Kinshasa showed the presence of the Ebola virus in 13 out of 20 samples. Results for suspected cases in Bunia are still pending as of Friday morning.
The INRB is working to determine the specific strain responsible for this outbreak. The most common strain in DRC is vaccine-preventable. The World Health Organization (WHO) noted that about 2,000 vaccine doses had been provided as of last year.
Challenges also include political instability; Ituri has been under martial law since 2021, with numerous armed groups operating in the area, including the ISIS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
Recently, a coalition of militias known as the Cooperative Union for the Development of the Congo (CODECO) attacked multiple villages in Ituri, resulting in over 70 casualties. DRC officials indicated that recovering all bodies for burial is difficult, as the region remains perilous.
This outbreak marks the 17th occurrence of Ebola in the DRC since the disease was first identified in 1976. Among past incidents, the most severe outbreak occurred between 2018 and 2020, leading to more than 1,000 fatalities. A major outbreak in West Africa from 2014 to 2016 resulted in over 11,000 deaths.
