Congo confirms new Ebola outbreak as 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths reported in Ituri province
At least 65 people have died amid 246 suspected Ebola cases in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province, with infections concentrated in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones and four of the deaths occurring among laboratory-confirmed cases. The Independent reported that Africa’s top public health body, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, confirmed the new outbreak on Friday, 2026-05-15, describing Ituri as a remote province where responding teams now face the challenge of tracking cases across scattered communities and vulnerable health facilities. [2]
The outbreak’s footprint may be widening beyond the initial hot spots. BBC News, citing Africa CDC, said additional suspected cases have been reported in Bunia, Ituri’s provincial capital, though laboratory confirmation is still pending. [1]
The development is the latest chapter in a fast-moving series of alerts on 2026-05-15, when the African public health agency announced it had confirmed an Ebola outbreak in Congo. Officials are now attempting to determine the full scale of transmission while distinguishing suspected infections from those confirmed by testing. [2][1]
Timeline· Developing
African public health agency confirms new Ebola outbreak in Congo
African health agency confirms Ebola outbreak
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and other regional health authorities formally confirmed an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking the official start of the reported incident.
- Initial reports put death toll at 65 in eastern DRC
Early reporting from the outbreak's epicenter in eastern DR Congo said roughly 65 people had died, indicating a fast‑moving and lethal local outbreak.
Deaths climb and outbreak spreads into Uganda
By the following day the reported death toll had risen (reports cited roughly 80–87 deaths) and infections were reported to have crossed the border into Uganda, signaling regional spread of the outbreak.
WHO warns of 'extraordinary' Ebola strain
The World Health Organization publicly warned that the strain involved and the outbreak dynamics were 'extraordinary,' elevating international concern about transmissibility and severity.
WHO declares global public health emergency
The WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda an international (global) public health emergency, mobilizing global attention and resources to contain the spread.
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India directs States to tighten Ebola surveillance after WHO PHEIC declaration
Surveillance under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme will focus on unusual fever clusters and symptoms suggestive of Ebola Disease, including among people with recent travel history to affected regions.
WHO says Ebola outbreak likely began months before detection
False-negative results from using tests designed for a different Ebola strain likely delayed recognition of the current outbreak, the WHO’s Abdirahman Mahamud said, adding that symptoms also overlap with malaria.
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Sources (2)
Published May 15, 2026
Synthesized from 2 sources