Hussaini Ibrahim 
KANO, Nigeria – Health authorities confirm a fresh Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with at least 65 deaths already recorded as fears mount over possible cross-border transmission across Central and East Africa.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention confirms the outbreak on Friday, saying the virus has been detected in Ituri Province in eastern DR Congo.
According to the agency, 246 suspected cases have so far been identified, while four deaths have been recorded among laboratory-confirmed infections.
The latest outbreak raises concerns across neighbouring countries still vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks and fragile healthcare systems.
“Africa CDC is closely monitoring the situation and convening an urgent high-level coordination meeting today with the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan and global partners,” the agency says in a statement posted on social media.
Health authorities say emergency response teams are intensifying cross-border surveillance, contact tracing and preparedness measures to prevent further spread.
Ebola is a highly infectious viral disease transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. The disease often causes severe fever, internal bleeding, organ failure and death if not rapidly contained.
The virus was first identified in 1976 and is believed to have originated from bats before spreading to humans.
Over the past five decades, Ebola outbreaks across Africa have claimed nearly 15,000 lives, according to health officials.
The Democratic Republic of Congo remains one of the countries hardest hit by recurring Ebola outbreaks due to insecurity, population displacement and weak healthcare infrastructure.
The country’s deadliest outbreak, recorded between 2018 and 2020, killed nearly 2,300 people.
Authorities are now racing to contain the latest outbreak before infections spread into neighbouring countries already placed on high alert.
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Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
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