A new Ebola outbreak has erupted in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with African health authorities confirming dozens of deaths and hundreds of suspected infections.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Friday that 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths had been recorded in Ituri Province, where the outbreak was confirmed.
The agency added that four of the deaths involved laboratory-confirmed Ebola cases.
Africa CDC said it had begun emergency coordination efforts with regional governments and international partners to contain the outbreak and prevent cross-border transmission.
“Africa CDC is closely monitoring the situation and convening an urgent high-level coordination meeting with the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan and global partners to reinforce cross-border surveillance, preparedness and outbreak response efforts,” the agency stated.
The outbreak has heightened fears across Central and East Africa because of Ebola’s deadly nature and the region’s history of recurring epidemics.
Ebola is a highly infectious viral disease spread through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected individuals. The virus can cause severe fever, bleeding, organ failure, and death.
First discovered in 1976, the disease is believed to have originated from bats and has since caused multiple outbreaks across the African continent.
According to health authorities, Ebola outbreaks have killed an estimated 15,000 people in Africa over the past five decades.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded several Ebola outbreaks, including the country’s worst epidemic between 2018 and 2020, which claimed nearly 2,300 lives.
Health officials are now ramping up surveillance and preparedness measures in affected areas and neighbouring countries amid fears of further spread.
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