The Ebola outbreak has reached the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s South Kivu Province, raising concerns about wider transmission in the volatile eastern region. The rebel group M23 confirmed a new case in Bukavu, the province’s capital, involving a 28-year-old man who traveled from Kisangani and died before diagnosis. Kisangani, a busy transport hub, is now a focus area for authorities due to potential virus spread.
The outbreak, which initially surfaced in Ituri Province, has now impacted North Kivu and South Kivu, with two cases reported in Uganda. Health Minister Roger Kamba disclosed 626 suspected cases and 159 probable deaths since the outbreak declaration on May 15. M23 has sent over 200 samples for analysis in Goma, North Kivu’s capital, where one confirmed case is closely monitored.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned that case numbers are likely to rise, given the virus’s circulation before detection. WHO officials are investigating the outbreak’s origins, suspecting it began months ago, emphasizing the need for immediate measures like contact tracing and isolation to curb transmission.
