19.05.2026 13:41
In the resurgence of the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the number of cases has risen to 435 and the death toll to 118. Authorities stated that efforts to control the outbreak are ongoing and urged the public to take precautions.
It has been reported that the death toll from the resurgent Ebola outbreak in the Ituri province of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has risen to 118. DRC Government Spokesperson Patrick Muyaya stated in a press release that the Nyankunde area in Ituri province and the Katwa area in North-Kivu province have also been affected by the outbreak, noting that 2 confirmed cases were detected in Katwa and 1 case was recorded in Goma, the capital of North-Kivu province.
Muyaya reported that the number of Ebola cases has increased to 435, and the death toll has risen to 118. Emphasizing that teams continue their field efforts to bring the outbreak under control, Muyaya warned the public to adhere to health measures such as mask usage, regular hand washing, and avoiding risky contacts.
17TH EBOLA OUTBREAK DECLARED IN THE COUNTRY
On May 15, it was announced that 336 Ebola cases had been recorded in the Ituri province of eastern DRC, with 87 deaths due to the outbreak, and the country's 17th Ebola outbreak was declared. The World Health Organization noted that the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda constitutes a public health emergency of international concern but does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) classified the outbreak risk level as "very high" for the DRC, "high" for East Africa, and "moderate" for the continent as a whole.
EBOLA HAS CAUSED THOUSANDS OF DEATHS IN AFRICA
The Ebola virus, which causes a type of hemorrhagic fever, first emerged in 1976 through simultaneous outbreaks in Nzara, Sudan, and Yambuku, DRC. The outbreak in the DRC was named after the Ebola River because it began in a village near that river.
The Ebola virus spread in West Africa in December 2013. In the outbreak that occurred in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone between 2014 and 2017, 30,000 people were infected with the virus, and over 11,000 of the patients died.