Ebola Virus Resurfaces in DR Congo After Previous Outbreak Warning
The United States is providing technical assistance to the governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda following confirmed Ebola outbreaks in both countries, according to the acting head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
U.S. health officials are supporting Ebola response efforts in DR Congo and Uganda after confirmed outbreaks.
On Friday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed an Ebola outbreak in Congo’s Ituri province. Officials reported 246 suspected infections and 65 deaths linked to the outbreak. Uganda’s health ministry also confirmed that a Congolese man died in Kampala after contracting Ebola Bundibugyo.
The New York Times
Acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya said the agency is working directly with Congo’s Ministry of Health through its local office.
“CDC has extensive experience and expertise in responding to Ebola outbreaks, and we are working closely with the DRC Ministry of Health through our country office to support our response efforts,” Bhattacharya said.
He added that Ugandan authorities informed the CDC about the outbreak in Uganda on Friday. According to Bhattacharya, CDC teams based in the country are assisting efforts to monitor and respond to the situation.
Bhattacharya also responded to concerns regarding U.S. foreign aid cuts in Africa. He said CDC offices operating in both affected countries remain fully staffed and prepared to assist with outbreak management and emergency response efforts.
“It is a large outbreak, and we were just informed yesterday about it,” Bhattacharya said. He further noted that officials are coordinating closely with impacted nations and stressed that “we will absolutely mobilize there as needed.”
Health experts say Ebola is commonly found in Congo’s dense tropical forests, which serve as a natural reservoir for the virus. The illness causes symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and body aches, and it can often be fatal. The virus spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials and may remain dormant in survivors before resurfacing years later.
The World Health Organization said it became aware of suspected cases tied to the outbreak on May 5. The agency sent a team to Ituri province to support investigations, though initial field samples tested negative.
At the same time, the Africa CDC announced plans for an emergency meeting involving Congo, Uganda, South Sudan, and international partners aimed at improving cross-border surveillance, preparedness, and response coordination.
Congo previously declared its first Ebola outbreak in three years in early September. By September 22, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warned that medical facilities in affected areas were overwhelmed and running low on supplies.
