Congo's Health Minister Roger Kamba on Saturday, 17 May 2025 warned that a newly declared Ebola outbreak in the eastern province of Ituri involves the Bundibugyo strain — a variant with no approved vaccine or specific treatment and a fatality rate that can reach 50 per cent. The outbreak, Congo's 17th since 1976, has already recorded 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths as of 15 May 2025, including four deaths among laboratory-confirmed cases.

What Makes This Outbreak Particularly Dangerous

Unlike the better-known Zaire strain — against which vaccines exist — the Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine and no targeted antiviral therapy. Minister Kamba told a press briefing in Kinshasa that the strain 'has a very high lethality rate which can reach 50 per cent.' The National Institute for Biomedical Research has confirmed the Bundibugyo strain in tested samples, removing earlier uncertainty about the pathogen involved.

The strain also presents differently from the Zaire variant. It typically begins with fever, with haemorrhagic signs — such as bleeding — appearing later in the disease course, which can complicate early identification and isolation. Authorities have urged residents to report any suspected case involving fever, vomiting, fatigue, or bleeding without delay.

Spread Risk: Cross-Border Concerns

The outbreak's geography amplifies the threat. The affected health zone of Mongwalu in Ituri is described by Minister Kamba as 'a commercial area marked by intense mobility,' placing provinces including North Kivu and Tshopo, as well as neighbouring countries Uganda and South Sudan, at elevated risk.

Uganda confirmed on Friday an 'imported case' — a Congolese national who died in Kampala — marking the first recorded cross-border transmission in this outbreak. Health teams have been deployed to trace contacts of confirmed cases in Ituri, adjacent provinces, and border zones.

Africa CDC Response

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has activated immediate response measures following the outbreak declaration. The agency flagged several compounding risk factors: intense population movement, mining-related mobility, ongoing insecurity in affected zones, gaps in contact tracing, infection prevention and control challenges, and the close proximity of affected areas to international borders.

The Africa CDC chief confirmed that the agency is coordinating with Congo, Uganda, South Sudan, and international partners to strengthen surveillance, preparedness, and containment efforts.

Congo's Preparedness and Next Steps

Despite the severity of the strain, Minister Kamba expressed confidence in the country's response capacity. 'The DRC is ready and has the capacities, expertise, and means to face the outbreak,' he said. Congo has managed 16 previous Ebola outbreaks and has accumulated significant institutional experience in rapid response, even if the Bundibugyo strain presents distinct clinical and logistical challenges.

With cross-border transmission already confirmed and a high-mobility commercial zone at the epicentre, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether this outbreak can be contained within Ituri or escalates into a wider regional health emergency.