Africa CDC Declares Ebola Outbreak in Eastern DR Congo

Africa's top health agency has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern Ituri province.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Africa) reported around 246 cases and 65 deaths, mainly in the areas of Mongwalu and Rwampara. Four of the deaths occurred among lab-confirmed cases.

In a statement Friday, CDC Africa said it was convening a meeting with DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan and other international partners to discuss response efforts and cross-border surveillance.

Preliminary tests at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in Kinshasa detected the virus in 13 of 20 samples analyzed. The tests followed consultations with DR Congo's Ministry of Health and National Public Institute.

First identified in 1976 in what is now DR Congo, Ebola is thought to have passed to humans from bats.

Around 50,000 people have died from the virus in different African countries over the past 50 years.

DR Congo's deadliest outbreak ran from 2018 to 2020 and killed nearly 2,300 people.

Last year, 15 people died in the country during its 16th outbreak.