Daijiworld Media Network - Kinshasa
Kinshasa, May 20: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is grappling with a new Ebola outbreak that has resulted in 131 suspected deaths and 513 suspected cases, according to Health Minister Roger Kamba.
Speaking at a briefing in Kinshasa after visiting affected regions, Kamba said the figures represent suspected cases and fatalities, and investigations are ongoing to confirm how many are directly linked to Ebola infections.
“These are suspected deaths, and investigations are underway to determine which are actually linked to the disease,” he said.
The outbreak was officially declared on May 15 in the eastern province of Ituri, marking the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak since 1976. Cases have also been confirmed in neighbouring North Kivu province, raising concerns about wider regional spread.
Health authorities said the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which is considered less deadly than the Zaire strain. Officials noted that the country has significant experience in managing Ebola outbreaks due to repeated exposure over decades.
The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak in both the DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, citing the risk of cross-border transmission. Two confirmed cases were reported in Kampala on May 15 and 16 following travel from the DRC, with both patients receiving intensive care.
Neighbouring countries, including Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania, have increased surveillance, tightened border screening and activated emergency preparedness systems in response to the spread.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has also classified the situation as a continental public health emergency. In a related development, the Rwanda–DRC border crossing in the Rubavu District was temporarily closed as precautionary measures were enforced.
Ebola is a highly infectious disease that can cause severe symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, body pain and, in advanced cases, internal and external bleeding. According to the WHO, fatality rates vary between 50 per cent and 89 per cent depending on the strain.