An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 65 people and likely infected 246 others, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
The deaths and suspected cases are concentrated in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones in the remote northeastern province of Ituri. Four deaths have been confirmed among laboratory cases, and suspected cases have also been reported in Bunia, near the Ugandan border.
Preliminary tests detected Ebola in 13 to 20 samples, indicating a non-Ebola Zaire strain, which is less lethal. Sequencing is ongoing to characterize the strain, with results expected within 24 hours.
Ituri province is particularly vulnerable due to its remoteness and limited infrastructure, making contact with Kinshasa-over 1,000 kilometers away-extremely difficult. The Africa CDC warned of rapid spread risks due to population movement, insecurity, and gaps in contact tracing.
Health authorities from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan are expected to meet Friday to coordinate containment measures. This outbreak comes five months after another deadly Ebola spread in the region that killed 43 people.