Ebola Resurges in DR Congo Amid Severe Humanitarian Crisis

The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing a new Ebola outbreak just five months after declaring the previous one over. The highly virulent Bundibugyo strain, first identified in neighboring Uganda, is spreading rapidly in the northeastern Ituri province. Outbreaks have been reported in the health zones of Rwampara, Mongwalu, and Bunia. Two cases have also been confirmed in Uganda.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” after recording over 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths. An unnamed official in the epicentre of Rwampara health zone said an average of five people have died per day over the past three days. “Some deaths occur in the community, some in health facilities. The top priority is to set up an emergency Ebola treatment centre,” the official said.

In Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, residents live in fear and uncertainty. “We are shocked that Ebola has returned amid the existing humanitarian and security crisis. If it is not controlled, our daily lives will be severely affected,” said Constant Ulimwengu, 40, a father of five. Another resident, Sherif Musa, 29, said he attended several funerals in April for people who died with cholera-like symptoms. “Perhaps these unusual deaths are linked to Ebola,” he suspected.

Congo's Ministry of Health identified the first suspected case as a female nurse who died at the Bunia Evangelical Medical Centre on April 27. The nurse exhibited symptoms suggestive of Ebola virus disease. After her death, the funeral proceeded normally, with people coming into contact with the body, which was not buried in a manner that prevents spread. Experts warn that unsafe burial practices could accelerate community transmission.

Elie Badjo, an analyst on universal health coverage in DR Congo, fears community mistrust may hamper outbreak control efforts. “Through early warning, we see people commenting that great powers want to exploit the situation for research, or that there is a risk of eliminating the population in the context of the war in the east,” he said. Local authorities are working to raise awareness and promote preventive measures, including regular hand washing, avoiding contact with symptomatic individuals, not eating bushmeat, and staying away from dead animals.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) stressed the need for rapid coordinated regional action. “In the context of an outbreak, especially haemorrhagic fever, we need to isolate all suspected cases, identify those who have had direct or indirect contact with patients, and strengthen cross-border surveillance,” said Dr Jean Kaseya, head of Africa CDC.

Professor and Congolese virologist Jean-Jacques Tamfum Muyembe, who co-discovered the Ebola virus 50 years ago, warned: “This outbreak occurs in one of the most densely populated areas of DR Congo, where people move frequently. For example, Mongwalu is a mining area attracting large numbers of people. Armed groups also control part of the territory. The risk of spread in this outbreak will be greater than what I witnessed in 1976 in Kikwit.”

Controlling the outbreak in Ituri is deemed particularly difficult due to high population density, armed conflict, mining areas, commercial centres, and constant population movement. Experts warn the new outbreak could strain an already fragile health system. From 2018 to 2020, DR Congo experienced its 10th Ebola outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, claiming nearly 2,300 lives. Lessons from that outbreak highlight the dangers of delayed response, inadequate health infrastructure, and community mistrust.

Unsafe burials, delayed reporting, and limited healthcare access are factors increasing the risk of spread. Priorities include coordinated community engagement, strengthening testing and treatment capacity, and protecting health workers. Sarah Ihora, 38, mother of three, fled North Kivu to Bunia. She recalled restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic and urged cooperation in the Ebola response. “Today, Ebola is spreading. People should heed the authorities’ instructions to curb its transmission,” she said.