Africa's top health agency has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern Ituri province.
Around 246 cases and 80 deaths have been reported, mainly in the gold-mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara, said the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Ugandan officials confirmed one case of imported Ebola from DR Congo on Friday, with the country's health ministry stating that a 59-year-old male who died on Thursday had tested positive.
Ebola was first discovered in 1976 in what is now DR Congo and is thought to have spread from bats. This is the 17th outbreak of the deadly viral disease in the country.
It is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids and broken skin, leading to severe bleeding and organ failure.
Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, fatigue, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, and bleeding. There is no proven cure for Ebola, with a WHO-reported average fatality rate of around 50%.
Preliminary tests at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in Kinshasa have detected the virus in 13 of 20 samples analyzed, and tests are ongoing to identify the strain of the virus.
Of the 80 deaths reported, four were among lab-confirmed cases, said Africa CDC. Additional suspected cases have emerged in Ituri's provincial capital, Bunia, with confirmations pending.
Given the high risk of further spread due to urbanization and mining activities, Africa CDC expressed concern. Significant population movement between affected areas and neighboring countries emphasizes the need for coordinated response efforts.
Meanwhile, the Congolese government has not officially declared the outbreak. Meetings are being scheduled with DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan, and international partners to prioritize response and surveillance efforts.
Ituri has been under military rule since 2021, following an attempt to neutralize armed groups in the region, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), linked to the Islamic State.
