Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo Claims 131 Lives as Cases Spread
Health officials warn of growing concern after hundreds of suspected Ebola infections were reported across multiple regions in DR Congo, with cases also confirmed in Uganda.
- At least 131 people have died, with more than 513 suspected Ebola cases recorded.
- The WHO declared the Bundibugyo strain outbreak an international public health emergency.
- An American doctor infected while working in Congo is being transferred to Germany for treatment.
An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed at least 131 people, with health officials reporting more than 513 suspected infections as the virus spreads to additional regions.
Authorities in DR Congo said new cases have been identified in several locations, including Nyakunde in Ituri Province, Butembo in North Kivu, and the eastern city of Goma, raising fears about wider transmission.
The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak — linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus — an international public health emergency due to the growing number of cases and the risk of cross-border spread.
Uganda has also confirmed two Ebola infections and one death, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Health officials in Congo are urging calm, saying response teams are actively tracing contacts, investigating suspected cases, and working to contain the outbreak. Preventive measures, including temperature screening and mandatory hand washing, have been introduced at hospitals and public facilities.
Among those infected is an American doctor working in DR Congo. The CDC and medical missionary organization Serge confirmed that Dr Peter Stafford tested positive for Ebola while serving in the country.
He is expected to be transferred to Germany for treatment. Two colleagues who were exposed to the virus, including his wife Dr Rebekah Stafford, are currently quarantining and have not shown symptoms.
Reports suggest that several other Americans may also have been exposed during the outbreak. The CDC said it was helping a small number of affected US citizens leave the country safely, though officials declined to provide exact figures.
According to reports, US authorities are considering relocating exposed Americans to a quarantine facility at a military base in Germany, although those plans have not been officially confirmed.
The outbreak has renewed concerns about the challenges of controlling Ebola in eastern Congo, where limited healthcare infrastructure, regional instability, and population movement can complicate containment efforts.
