Ebola in the DRC: WHO Fears National Spread as the Outbreak Gains Ground

The Ebola outbreak continues to raise serious concern in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The World Health Organization has raised the risk of national spread of the Bundibugyo strain to “very high.” This decision comes as the number of cases is increasing rapidly in the eastern part of the country and several health zones are struggling to contain the disease.

According to the latest report published by Congolese authorities as of May 22, 2026, the DRC now has 91 confirmed Ebola cases, with 19 new infections recorded in a single day. Among these new cases, 18 were reported in Ituri and one in South Kivu. Three additional deaths were also confirmed, bringing the total to 10 confirmed deaths and 204 probable deaths.

Ituri at the Heart of the Outbreak

Ituri province remains the epicenter of this new outbreak. The Aru health zone recorded its first cases, becoming the twelfth health zone affected in the country. This geographical spread demonstrates the difficulties faced in controlling the disease, particularly in border regions and areas with high population mobility.

Health facilities are under pressure. As of May 22, 147 patients were in isolation in Ebola treatment centers in Ituri. The Bunia laboratory also reported a positivity rate of 48%, a sign of active virus circulation in several communities.

Contact Tracing Raises Concerns

Health authorities and their international partners are particularly concerned about the weakness of contact tracing. The overall surveillance rate is only 20%, while nearly one hundred people exposed to the virus have been lost to follow-up for more than 72 hours.

In some areas, such as Rwampara and Kilo Mission, contact tracing is almost nonexistent. This situation is severely complicating containment efforts and increasing the risk of spread to other provinces or neighboring countries.

Africa on Alert

In response to this threat, Africa CDC and the WHO have established a continent-wide risk map. The DRC and Uganda are among the countries directly affected. Ten other African countries are classified as high risk due to their trade exchanges, transport routes, or porous borders with affected areas.

These include Rwanda, Kenya, Zambia, Angola, Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville, and Tanzania. African health authorities fear that intensified cross-border movements could lead to the exportation of new cases.

As medical teams continue awareness campaigns and patient care efforts, experts believe the coming weeks will be decisive in preventing a major national and regional spread of the outbreak.

MB – Reuters – ACP

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