Call for Urgent Regional Coordination Meeting Following Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Ituri Province, DRC

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia / Kinshasa, DRC, 15 May 2026

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)

is closely monitoring the confirmed Ebola Virus Disease outbreak

in Ituri province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and is working

with national authorities and partners to support a rapid, coordinated

response.

Following consultations with the DRC’s Ministry of Health and National

Public Health Institute, preliminary laboratory results from the Institut

National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) have detected Ebola virus

in 13 of 20 samples tested. The results suggest a non-Zaire ebolavirus,

with sequencing ongoing to further characterise the strain. Results are

expected within the next 24 hours with support from Africa CDC.

As of the latest update, about 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths

have been reported, mainly in Mongwalu and Rwampara health

zones. Four deaths have been reported among laboratory-confirmed

cases. Suspected cases have also been reported in Bunia, pending

confirmation.

Africa CDC is concerned about the risk of further spread due to the

urban context of Bunia and Rwampara, intense population movement,

mining-related mobility in Mongwalu, insecurity in affected areas, gaps

in contact listing, infection prevention and control challenges, and the

proximity of affected areas to Uganda and South Sudan.

In response, Africa CDC is convening an urgent high-level coordination

meeting today, 15 May 2026, with health authorities from the DRC,

Uganda and South Sudan, together with key partners including the

World Health Organization, UNICEF, the United States CDC, the

European CDC, China CDC, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Gilead

Sciences, Merck & Co., Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine,

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Roche, Abbott Laboratories, Cepheid,

BioNTech, Moderna, Evotec Biologics, CEPI, Gavi, Médecins Sans

Frontières, IFRC, the World Bank, the African Development Bank,

Afreximbank, the Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, and other

partners.

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

mobilisation.

“Africa CDC stands in solidarity with the Government and people of the

Democratic Republic of the Congo as they respond to this outbreak,”

said H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC. “Given the

high population movement between affected areas and neighbouring

countries, rapid regional coordination is essential. We are working with

DRC, Uganda, South Sudan and partners to strengthen surveillance,

preparedness and response, and to help contain the outbreak as

quickly as possible.”

Africa CDC is preparing support across key response pillars, including

coordination through emergency operations mechanisms, digital

surveillance and data management, cross-border preparedness,

laboratory coordination, infection prevention and control, risk

communication and community engagement. In addition, Africa CDC

will work with partners to assess the availability and appropriateness

of medical countermeasures once sequencing results confirm the

exact ebolavirus species.

Africa CDC is urging communities in affected and at-risk areas to follow

guidance from national health authorities, report symptoms promptly,

avoid direct contact with suspected cases, and support response

teams working to protect communities.

Additional information will be provided as they become available and

as sequencing results are finalised.

About Ebola Virus Disease

Ebola Virus Disease is a severe and often fatal illness. It spreads

through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons,

contaminated materials, or persons who have died from the disease.

Early detection, prompt isolation and care, contact tracing, infection

prevention and control, community engagement, and safe and dignified

burials are critical to stopping transmission. WHO describes Ebola as

spreading through direct contact with bodily fluids and contaminated

surfaces or materials.