An Ebola outbreak in the eastern Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 65 people, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency said around 246 cases have been reported, with most infections concentrated in the gold-mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara.

The announcement came as health officials work to contain the spread of one of the world’s deadliest viruses.

In a statement released Friday, the Africa CDC confirmed that it is coordinating a meeting with DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan, and international partners to discuss urgent response priorities.

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These include containment, cross-border surveillance, and the mobilisation of additional health resources.

Ebola, which was first identified in 1976 in what is now DR Congo, is believed to spread to humans from bats.

The current crisis marks the country’s 17th outbreak of the disease.

Ebola Virus Disease outbreak confirmed in Ituri Province, DRC

Africa CDC is closely monitoring the situation and convening an urgent high-level coordination meeting today with the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan and global partners to reinforce cross-border surveillance, preparedness… pic.twitter.com/ox5YImyPwL

— Africa CDC (@AfricaCDC) May 15, 2026

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The virus is transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids or through exposure to broken skin. Patients often present with fever, muscle pain, fatigue, and sore throat before developing vomiting, diarrhoea, and sometimes internal or external bleeding.

There is no confirmed cure for Ebola. The World Health Organisation reports that the average fatality rate hovers around 50 percent.

Preliminary tests at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in Kinshasa detected Ebola in 13 of 20 samples analysed.

The testing follows consultations with the Ministry of Health and the National Public Institute.

Scientists are also conducting studies to identify the specific strain responsible for the current outbreak. Of the 65 deaths so far, four occurred among laboratory-confirmed cases, according to the Africa CDC.

Health officials have reported additional suspected cases in Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri, with laboratory results pending. The risk of further spread remains high due to the dense population and mobility in the affected towns.

Dr Jean Kaseya, the Africa CDC’s executive director, said the agency is particularly concerned about “significant population movement” between the outbreak zones and neighbouring countries, which underscores the need for regional coordination.

Residents in affected and at-risk communities have been urged to adhere strictly to guidance issued by national health authorities to limit transmission.

Despite the regional alert, DR Congo’s government has yet to officially declare the situation an outbreak. A government spokesperson told the BBC that a press briefing was expected later on Friday.

The Ituri region has faced ongoing insecurity since military rule was introduced in 2021 to combat armed groups operating in the area, including the Allied Democratic Forces.

This instability complicates containment efforts and access to healthcare services.

Over the past five decades, roughly 15,000 people have died from Ebola across different African nations. DR Congo’s deadliest outbreak occurred between 2018 and 2020 when nearly 2,300 people lost their lives.

Another outbreak in central Kasai province last year resulted in 45 deaths, highlighting that the virus continues to re-emerge across the country despite years of experience in response operations.

With coordination now accelerating across East and Central Africa, health officials say the situation in Ituri remains under close watch as containment measures expand.

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