BUNIA — An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reached a crowded displacement camp in the country’s northeast, where camp officials and aid workers reported at least 30 deaths since early May among residents showing symptoms consistent with the disease. Health authorities said on Friday that Congo had recorded more than 900 confirmed Ebola cases nationwide, including more than 200 deaths, as the outbreak continued to affect eastern provinces.
The Kigonze camp near Bunia in Ituri province has become one of the areas of concern in the outbreak response. Camp officials and humanitarian workers told Reuters that some residents who died had symptoms including fever, headaches and vomiting, with some cases confirmed through testing. The full cause of every death reported in the camp remains unclear.
The Congolese Ministry of Health said the outbreak was first identified in Ituri province and has since affected additional areas, with confirmed cases also reported in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said on Friday that the country had recorded 933 confirmed Ebola cases and 245 deaths, according to ministry data.
The outbreak has involved the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, according to health authorities and international health reports. The strain is one of several Ebola virus species and has previously caused outbreaks in parts of Central Africa. The World Health Organization and other health agencies have supported response efforts, including testing, contact tracing and infection prevention measures.
Aid groups have warned that conditions in some displacement camps may complicate containment efforts. Humanitarian workers said overcrowding, limited sanitation facilities and challenges reaching some communities have affected response operations. The United Nations refugee agency previously confirmed Ebola-related deaths in a displacement camp in eastern Congo and said teams were working to strengthen protection measures.
Health officials have urged communities to report symptoms early and cooperate with medical teams involved in tracing contacts and providing care. “There are still many blind spots in some areas that are high risk,” World Health Organization epidemiologist Olivier le Polain said in a statement cited by reports on the outbreak response.
Authorities have not provided a final assessment of the total impact of the outbreak, and officials said some figures may change as investigations continue. Health teams remain active in affected provinces, while details about the full scale of transmission in displacement camps and surrounding communities remain unclear.
