A fresh Ebola outbreak in Ituri province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, is drawing international attention. According to health experts, key drivers include the weakening of disease surveillance systems after the previous outbreak, coupled with armed conflict and population displacement that hinder vaccination and infection control efforts.
The region previously endured a major Ebola epidemic from 2018 to 2020, which killed more than 2,200 people. This time, the virus has re-emerged with new cases reported in remote rural areas where residents have limited access to health services and frequently cross borders into Uganda and Rwanda.
Shortages of vaccines, health workers, and protective equipment at local health centers are making the outbreak difficult to contain. Organizations such as WHO and UNICEF are coordinating with the Congolese government to launch emergency vaccination campaigns while stepping up community awareness efforts on infection prevention.
Experts emphasize that beyond medical intervention, addressing root causes such as security instability and poverty is key to preventing the recurrence of future outbreaks in the Ituri region.
