A new wave of the Ebola virus has emerged in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, resulting in at least 65 fatalities, as reported by African health authorities.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention announced the update on Friday, revealing that a total of 246 suspected cases have been identified, with four deaths among those confirmed through laboratory tests.
Health officials have pinpointed the outbreak to Ituri Province, situated in the country’s eastern sector.
Africa CDC stated that it is actively monitoring the situation and has already organized an emergency high-level coordination meeting. This meeting includes representatives from the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, and international health partners, with the goal of enhancing cross-border surveillance, preparedness, and response initiatives.
Ebola virus disease, which was first identified in 1976, is a severe and highly contagious hemorrhagic illness that spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids.
The disease can lead to severe bleeding, organ failure, and death if not rapidly contained. Over the past fifty years, Ebola outbreaks across Africa are estimated to have claimed around 15,000 lives.
The most devastating outbreak in the DRC took place between 2018 and 2020, resulting in nearly 2,300 deaths.
Authorities are urging residents and neighboring countries to stay alert and immediately report any suspected infections to help control the virus’s spread.