At least 80 people have died and 246 suspected cases have been reported in a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern Ituri province. The outbreak was first announced on Friday, with initial figures reporting 65 deaths. Residents in the capital, Bunia, have expressed fear as deaths and burials occur daily.
Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba stated in a press briefing in Kinshasa that the outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, which is considered highly lethal and has no available vaccine. According to the World Health Organization, mortality rates for such outbreaks over the last half-century have ranged between 25% and 90%.
On May 17, the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. Doctors Without Borders has described the rapid spread as extremely concerning and is preparing a large-scale response. Additionally, the Africa CDC expressed concern that the outbreak could spread rapidly due to intense population movement.
Health workers are currently racing to contain the disease by intensifying screening and contact tracing. Officials continue to monitor the situation as they work to manage the spread of the virus strain in the affected regions.