Trending Now - Ebola Resurfaces in Eastern Congo, Claiming 65 Lives

WHO:

Ars Technica - The US CDC reported that it learned about potential cases on May 5.

Yahoo - Africa CDC confirmed the outbreak and stated that the Ebola virus is highly contagious and can be contracted through bodily fluids such as vomit, blood, or semen.

Yahoo - Africa CDC, the continent's top public health body, confirmed the outbreak.

Yahoo - The outbreak is primarily affecting the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones.

Yahoo - The Allied Democratic Force, an Islamic State-linked militant group, is active in the region.

WHAT:

Yahoo - Africa CDC confirmed that the outbreak has resulted in 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths recorded so far.

CNN - Uganda's Health Ministry reported that the deceased Congolese man was tested posthumously and confirmed to be infected with the Bundibugyo virus.

Fox News - The Africa CDC stated that only four of the deaths have so far been laboratory confirmed, while testing and sequencing efforts continue to determine the exact strain involved in the outbreak.

Fox News - Health officials are investigating whether the outbreak involves the Ebola Zaire strain or a different variant.

CNN - Initial tests suggested the outbreak may not involve the Ebola Zaire strain, which was responsible for Congo’s devastating 2018-2020 epidemic.

Yahoo - The Africa CDC reported that four deaths have been confirmed among laboratory-confirmed cases.

CNN - Uganda confirmed one death in an Ebola case that was imported from Congo, involving a Congolese man who was admitted to a hospital in Kampala three days before he died.

CNN - The deceased was infected with the Bundibugyo virus, a variant of the illness that has been endemic in Uganda.

CNN - The World Health Organization is releasing $500,000 to aid Congo’s response to the outbreak.

Ars Technica - The outbreak has resulted in 65 deaths, with the US CDC stating it just became aware of the situation yesterday.

Yahoo - The latest outbreak comes around five months after Congo’s last Ebola outbreak was declared over after 43 deaths.

BBC News - An Ebola outbreak from 2018 to 2020 in eastern Congo killed more than 1,000 people.

Yahoo - An earlier outbreak that swept across West Africa from 2014 to 2016 also killed more than 11,000 people.

Yahoo - A new Ebola outbreak has been confirmed in Congo’s Ituri province.

Yahoo - There are 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths recorded so far.

Yahoo - Four deaths have been reported among laboratory-confirmed cases.

Yahoo - Preliminary laboratory results detected the Ebola virus in 13 of 20 samples tested.

BBC News - This is the 17th outbreak of Ebola in Congo since the disease first emerged in 1976.

WHERE:

Ars Technica - The outbreak is affecting both Congo and Uganda.

Yahoo - Ituri province is characterized by poor road networks and is more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the nation’s capital of Kinshasa.

Yahoo - The outbreak is located in Ituri province, specifically in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones.

Yahoo - Ituri province is more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from Kinshasa, the nation’s capital.

Yahoo - Suspected cases have also been reported in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province.

WHEN:

Ars Technica - The US CDC reported its awareness of the outbreak on May 6.

Yahoo - The latest outbreak comes around five months after the last Ebola outbreak was declared over.

WHY:

Ars Technica - The outbreak is linked to an uncommon strain of the Ebola virus.

Yahoo - The new outbreak will create more worry for Congo, which has been battling various armed groups in the east, including the M23 rebel group, which launched a rapid assault in January last year and has since occupied key cities.

Yahoo - Ituri is also battling violence from the Allied Democratic Force, an Islamic State-linked militant group which has killed dozens there and in other parts of the east.

Yahoo - Africa CDC expressed concern about the risk of further spread due to intense population movement, mining-related mobility, insecurity in affected areas, and gaps in contact listing and control challenges.

Yahoo - The proximity of affected areas to Uganda and South Sudan raises additional concerns.

HOW:

Yahoo - The Africa CDC is convening an urgent high-level coordination meeting with health authorities from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, along with key partners including U.N. agencies and other countries.

CNN - The World Health Organization sent a response team to the region last week to help local officials investigate the outbreak and collect samples.

CNN - The acting head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Jay Bhattacharya, stated that U.S. health officials are in contact with officials in Congo and Uganda and are prepared to provide assistance as needed.

Ars Technica - The World Health Organization was informed of potential cases on May 5.

Yahoo - Africa CDC is convening an urgent high-level coordination meeting with health authorities from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, along with key partners including U.N. agencies and other countries.

Yahoo - During last year's outbreak, which lasted three months, the World Health Organization initially faced significant challenges in delivering vaccines due to limited access and scarce funds.

Yahoo - Africa CDC is convening an urgent high-level coordination meeting with health authorities from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, along with key partners including U.N. agencies.

Yahoo - The meeting will focus on immediate response priorities, cross-border coordination, surveillance, laboratory support, infection prevention and control, risk communication, safe and dignified burials, and resource mobilization.

(UPDATED May 16, 2026 07:36 UTC)

The Africa CDC has confirmed an outbreak resulting in 246 suspected cases and 65 recorded deaths, with only four of those deaths being laboratory confirmed. Uganda's Health Ministry reported that a Congolese man who passed away was tested posthumously and found to be infected with the Bundibugyo virus. In response to the situation, the Africa CDC is convening an urgent high-level coordination meeting with health authorities from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, along with key partners including U.N. agencies and other countries.

(UPDATED May 16, 2026 04:09 UTC)

Health officials are currently investigating an outbreak to determine if it involves the Ebola Zaire strain or a different variant, with initial tests indicating it may not be the strain responsible for the devastating epidemic in Congo from 2018 to 2020. The Africa CDC has confirmed four deaths among the laboratory-confirmed cases linked to this outbreak. In response, the World Health Organization dispatched a team to the region last week to assist local officials in their investigation and sample collection.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 23:15 UTC)

Uganda has confirmed one death from an Ebola case imported from Congo, involving a Congolese man who had been admitted to a hospital in Kampala three days prior to his death. The deceased was infected with the Bundibugyo virus, a variant that has been endemic in Uganda, and in response, the World Health Organization is releasing $500,000 to support Congo’s efforts against the outbreak. Meanwhile, Jay Bhattacharya, the acting head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced that U.S. health officials are in contact with their counterparts in Congo and Uganda, ready to provide assistance as needed.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 21:19 UTC)

The World Health Organization has reported potential cases of an uncommon strain of the Ebola virus affecting both Congo and Uganda, with the US CDC recently becoming aware of the outbreak. This situation has tragically resulted in 65 deaths, highlighting the severity of the health crisis. The CDC was informed about the outbreak on May 6, following the initial reports of cases on May 5.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 17:25 UTC)

Africa CDC has confirmed a new outbreak of the highly contagious Ebola virus in Ituri province, which can be transmitted through bodily fluids such as vomit, blood, or semen. This latest outbreak follows just five months after the previous one in Congo was declared over, which resulted in 43 deaths. In response, Africa CDC is convening an urgent high-level coordination meeting with health authorities from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, along with key partners including U.N. agencies and other countries.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 13:28 UTC)

A new Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo is raising concerns, especially given the devastating toll of previous outbreaks, including one from 2018 to 2020 that claimed over 1,000 lives and another from 2014 to 2016 that resulted in more than 11,000 deaths across West Africa. The situation is compounded by ongoing violence in the region, with armed groups like the M23 rebel group and the Allied Democratic Force creating significant instability and posing challenges to health efforts. Last year's outbreak highlighted these difficulties, as the World Health Organization struggled to deliver vaccines due to limited access and funding during a three-month crisis.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 11:40 UTC)

A new Ebola outbreak has been confirmed in Congo’s Ituri province, primarily affecting the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, with 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths recorded so far. Africa CDC is convening an urgent high-level coordination meeting with health authorities from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan to address immediate response priorities and enhance cross-border coordination. The outbreak raises concerns due to the proximity of affected areas to Uganda and South Sudan, along with the active presence of the Allied Democratic Force in the region.