DRC Urges Calm Over 906 Suspected Ebola Cases as Officials Target Control Within 120 Days
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · May 30
DRC Urges Calm Over 906 Suspected Ebola Cases as Officials Target Control Within 120 Days
6 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · May 30
906 suspected Ebola cases and 223 suspected deaths have been recorded in the DRC, where Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya said residents should not panic as the outbreak spreads from Bunia in Ituri province.
134 cases and 18 deaths have been confirmed in the DRC and neighboring Uganda, while 2,635 contacts are under monitoring and 125 people are in treatment, according to officials and the WHO.
14 days after the outbreak was declared, Muyaya said the government has laid a solid foundation and aims to bring the situation under control within 90 to 120 days.
One female patient has recovered after two negative tests, but Muyaya said misinformation on social media remains a major obstacle to containment and is being countered with daily briefings and local outreach.
Muyaya also rejected comparisons with COVID-19, saying Ebola spreads through contact with bodily fluids rather than through the air, even as Uganda has closed its border with the DRC.
The WHO advises against border closures, but nations are sealing them. Is fear winning over science in the Ebola crisis?
With locals attacking hospitals, is misinformation now a bigger threat than the Ebola virus itself?
With no vaccine for this rare Ebola strain, are doctors fighting a losing battle in the Congo?
2026 Bundibugyo Ebola Crisis: Over 1,000 Suspected Cases, Humanitarian Barriers, and the Urgent Need for Vaccines
Overview
The resurgence of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus has triggered a worsening outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, raising national and regional alarm. While the global risk remains low and the likelihood of infection in the EU/EEA is very low, the situation demands robust international coordination and cooperation. Organizations like Project HOPE are deploying emergency teams, and proactive public health measures are being implemented to prevent further spread. Continuous monitoring by agencies such as the ECDC and collaborative efforts on the ground are essential to contain the outbreak and protect vulnerable communities.