DRC Reports New Ebola Outbreak, WHO Declares Emergency

The current strain appeared after a six-month period without cases. The previous outbreak ended December 1, 2025, with 45 deaths over three months.

Health authorities identified the new cases in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu. The affected areas contain multiple armed groups and dense populations. Officials noted delays in initial detection and difficulties organizing a response.

The World Health Organization assessed the risk of regional spread as high and global spread as low. The United States responded by restricting entry for foreign nationals who stayed in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the prior 21 days.

The current strain's characteristics and the region's security conditions complicate containment efforts. International aid reductions since the Covid-19 pandemic have limited available resources for large-scale health responses.