Ebola Outbreak Expands in Eastern Congo as New Cases and Deaths Rise

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to another health zone in the northeastern province of Ituri, health authorities said on Wednesday, highlighting continued transmission more than three weeks after the epidemic was officially declared.

According to the Ministry of Health, the health zone of Tchomia, located about 50 kilometers south of the provincial capital Bunia along the shores of Lake Albert, has reported infections linked to the outbreak. The development raises the number of affected health zones across the country to 26, including 18 in Ituri province.

Ituri remains the center of the epidemic, accounting for more than 94 percent of all confirmed infections reported nationwide. In Congo’s healthcare system, a health zone represents a designated geographic area served by a network of clinics and a referral hospital.

The ministry’s latest situation report showed that 37 new confirmed Ebola cases were recorded over the previous 24 hours. The same reporting period also saw 12 additional deaths, with all of the newly reported infections and fatalities occurring in Ituri.

Since the outbreak was declared on May 15, health authorities have confirmed 635 cases and 127 deaths across the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. The affected regions face persistent challenges, including armed insecurity, population displacement and frequent cross-border movement, factors that can complicate disease surveillance and containment efforts.

The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a relatively rare variant for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Health officials have warned that the absence of targeted medical tools makes rapid detection, isolation and supportive care critical to limiting the spread of the disease.

Despite the continued rise in infections, authorities reported some positive developments. Eight additional patients were declared recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 30 since the start of the outbreak.

Medical response efforts have also expanded in recent days. Treatment activities are now underway at dedicated Ebola centers in Bunia and Rwampara, where healthcare workers are providing care for infected patients and monitoring suspected cases.

Health officials continue to urge communities in affected areas to report symptoms promptly and cooperate with response teams. Surveillance operations, contact tracing and public awareness campaigns are being intensified as authorities seek to prevent the virus from spreading further into other regions.

The latest figures underscore the challenge facing health authorities as they work to contain one of the country’s most serious Ebola outbreaks in recent years amid difficult conditions in eastern Congo.