DAKAR: The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola outbreak has spread to a new health zone in the northeastern province of Ituri, health authorities confirmed on Wednesday, signaling continued transmission more than three weeks after the epidemic was officially declared.
According to the Ministry of Health, Tchomia, located roughly 50 kilometers south of the provincial capital Bunia along the shores of Lake Albert, has become the latest affected health zone. The development raises the number of impacted health zones to 26 nationwide, including 18 in Ituri Province, which accounts for more than 94% of all confirmed infections.
In Congo’s healthcare system, a health zone is a designated administrative area served by a network of clinics and a referral hospital.
The latest government situation report recorded 37 new confirmed Ebola cases and 12 deaths within the previous 24 hours, with all newly reported infections occurring in Ituri. Health officials say the outbreak has now resulted in 635 confirmed cases and 127 deaths across the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.
The current epidemic is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a rare variant for which there is currently no approved vaccine or targeted treatment. Since the outbreak was declared on May 15, the virus has continued to spread through regions already grappling with armed conflict, population displacement, weak healthcare infrastructure, and significant cross-border movement.
Authorities reported that eight additional patients have recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 30. Meanwhile, treatment operations have been expanded with Ebola care centers now active in Bunia and Rwampara, as officials intensify efforts to contain the disease.
Public health experts warn that the emergence of infections in a new health zone highlights the challenges of controlling Ebola transmission in eastern Congo, where insecurity and mobility often complicate disease surveillance, contact tracing, and emergency response measures.
-Robbie Corey-Bonnerot
