Since mid-May 2026, an Ebola outbreak has been confirmed in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. While several cases have been reported in Ituri Province, the situation in areas controlled by M23 rebels appears to be different.
In a press release issued on May 18, 2026, M23 authorities stated that only one case has been confirmed since the outbreak began.
In the same statement, they said that 189 people who may have had contact with the infected person were identified and investigated in the city of Goma. Samples from 22 suspected cases were sent to the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) for analysis.
Among these, five tested negative, while the results of the remaining samples are still pending.
One suspected case identified in the city of Bukavu was immediately transferred to Goma for analysis and also tested negative.
“At this moment, only one case has been confirmed in the liberated zone, and the patient is receiving treatment,” the statement said.
Ebola is a virus transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or animal. It can also be contracted through contact with infected bushmeat. Preventive measures, including limiting physical contact, are being implemented to stop the spread of the disease.
