Ebola Outbreak Continues in Democratic Republic of Congo

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Ebola Outbreak Hits Mongbwalu, Highlighting Healthcare Gaps

A family in Mongbwalu, a mining town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, has lost its 15-year-old daughter to Ebola. The girl’s death is one of several recent cases in the region, which has been battling yet another outbreak.

According to Congolese authorities, the first cases of the new Ebola outbreak were reported in Mongbwalu. Residents describe daily deaths in the village, while local health services struggle to respond.

Francine Mbona Pendeza, a Congolese doctor who helped fight Ebola in North Kivu province between 2018 and 2020, attributes the repeated epidemics to unsafe food practices, limited access to clean water, and weaknesses in the healthcare system. She notes that many people in the DRC eat raw or undercooked food, which can spread germs and cause outbreaks.

Mbona also highlights the challenges of accessing quality healthcare in remote areas. “To find a hospital, especially in remote areas, you have to travel many kilometres,” she said. “And sometimes, you might reach a hospital only to find unqualified staff.”

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has sent a team of experts to the capital of Ituri province to strengthen the response to the ongoing Ebola epidemic.

The DRC has experienced an average of one Ebola outbreak every three years. The tenth outbreak, of the Zaire strain, devastated North Kivu and Ituri between 2018 and 2020, killing more than 2,300 people.

Health officials warn that vigilance remains crucial in case of potential resurgences. Rodriguez Kisando, a doctor specializing in environmental health, believes that the failure of the healthcare system makes the DRC a breeding ground for epidemics.

The country’s vast size and limited availability of medicines are also cited as factors contributing to the outbreak. Kisando argues that bringing healthcare facilities closer to the people would improve access to primary care.

In December 2025, the DRC announced the end of its sixteenth Ebola outbreak in the Bulape region. However, health officials remain vigilant for potential resurgences.

Source: Al Jazeera