{"id":1762,"date":"2026-05-16T12:30:56","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T12:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?p=1762"},"modified":"2026-05-16T12:30:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T12:30:56","slug":"lethal-ebola-surge-leaves-65-dead-as-officials-scramble-to-contain-deadly-virus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?p=1762","title":{"rendered":"Lethal Ebola surge leaves 65 dead as officials scramble to contain deadly virus"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_e189fa\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">A deadly Ebola surge in DR Congo&#8217;s mining hubs has killed 65, sparking fears of a regional crisis as the virus spreads toward neighbouring borders<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">14:38, 15 May 2026<\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated 14:38, 15 May 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"35950181\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Medical staff check each others protective suits \" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article35950181.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/3_TOPSHOT-UGANDA-HEALTH-EBOLA.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article35950181.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/3_TOPSHOT-UGANDA-HEALTH-EBOLA.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article35950181.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/3_TOPSHOT-UGANDA-HEALTH-EBOLA.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article35950181.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/3_TOPSHOT-UGANDA-HEALTH-EBOLA.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"A new Ebola outbreak has gripped the Democratic Republic of Congo\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">A new Ebola outbreak has gripped the Democratic Republic of Congo<cite aria-label=\"Image: AFP via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: AFP via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A terrifying new Ebola crisis has gripped the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with health chiefs sounding the alarm as the virus tears through vital gold-mining regions. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has confirmed a major outbreak in the eastern Ituri province, reporting a grim tally of 246 cases and 65 deaths so far.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The surge is centred around the bustling mining hubs of Mongwalu and Rwampara, sparking fears of <a aria-label=\"a rapid spreadLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/news\/ebola-outbreak-kills-15-deadly-35850894\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">a rapid spread<\/a> through the industrial workforce.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Health officials are now scrambling to contain the<a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/news\/world-news\/who-confirms-ebola-outbreak-second-26800473\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\"> pathogen before it jumps<\/a> across international lines. The Africa CDC revealed on Friday that it is pulling together an emergency summit with the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan to ramp up cross-border surveillance.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37102877\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37102877\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.78\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A 3D rendered image of the Ebola virus\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37102877.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Abs-Virus-Ebola.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37102877.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_Abs-Virus-Ebola.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37102877.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_Abs-Virus-Ebola.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37102877.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Abs-Virus-Ebola.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Health officials are scrambling to contain the virus\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Health officials are scrambling to contain the virus<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Dr Jean Kaseya, executive director of the agency, warned that &#8220;significant population movement&#8221; between the mining hubs and neighbouring nations makes regional coordination a matter of life and death.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">First identified in 1976, it marks the 17th time the DRC has battled the virus, which is believed to originate in bats.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The disease is notoriously difficult to contain due to how it attacks the human body, spreading via direct contact with infected bodily fluids or broken skin.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-35862327\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"35862327\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A health worker puts on his PPE before entering an Ebola treatment centre\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article35862327.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_FILES-DRCONGO-EPIDEMIC-HEALTH-EBOLA.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article35862327.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_FILES-DRCONGO-EPIDEMIC-HEALTH-EBOLA.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article35862327.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_FILES-DRCONGO-EPIDEMIC-HEALTH-EBOLA.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article35862327.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_FILES-DRCONGO-EPIDEMIC-HEALTH-EBOLA.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"It marks the 17th time the DRC has battled the virus\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">It marks the 17th time the DRC has battled the virus<cite aria-label=\"Image: AFP via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: AFP via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It begins with flu-like signs, including fever, muscle pain and fatigue, before escalating into vomiting, rashes, organ failure and internal\/external bleeding. There is currently no proven cure for Ebola. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the average survival rate is 50 per cent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The crisis is moving from remote outposts into urban centres. Suspected cases have already been flagged in Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri. The Africa CDC has expressed &#8220;deep concern&#8221; regarding the high risk of a wider explosion in cases, citing the crowded urban environments of Rwampara and Bunia, alongside the transient nature of the Mongwalu mining camps.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Dr Jean Kaseya, from Africa CDC, said: &#8220;Significant population movement between the affected areas and neighbouring countries [means] regional co-ordination was essential.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The timing of the outbreak couldn&#8217;t be worse for Ituri. The province has been under strict military rule since 2021 as the government attempts to suppress violent armed groups, including the ISIS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">While the Congolese government has yet to make an official state of emergency declaration, sources told the BBC a formal announcement is expected imminently. Last year, 45 people died from the virus in Kasai province, while the country&#8217;s worst-ever outbreak claimed nearly 2,300 lives between 2018 and 2020.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Approximately 15,000 people have been killed by Ebola across Africa over the last five decades. Locals in high-risk zones are being urged to strictly follow health guidelines as laboratory teams in Kinshasa work around the clock to identify the specific strain of the virus currently in circulation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><em>For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking <\/em><\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><em><u><a aria-label=\"hereLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/newsletter-preference-centre\/\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a><\/u><\/em><\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><em>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A deadly Ebola surge in DR Congo&#8217;s mining hubs has killed 65, sparking fears of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1763,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1762","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3_TOPSHOT-UGANDA-HEALTH-EBOLA.jpg",1200,674,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3_TOPSHOT-UGANDA-HEALTH-EBOLA-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3_TOPSHOT-UGANDA-HEALTH-EBOLA-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3_TOPSHOT-UGANDA-HEALTH-EBOLA-768x431.jpg",640,359,true],"large":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3_TOPSHOT-UGANDA-HEALTH-EBOLA-1024x575.jpg",640,359,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3_TOPSHOT-UGANDA-HEALTH-EBOLA.jpg",1200,674,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3_TOPSHOT-UGANDA-HEALTH-EBOLA.jpg",1200,674,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3_TOPSHOT-UGANDA-HEALTH-EBOLA-1115x674.jpg",1115,674,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3_TOPSHOT-UGANDA-HEALTH-EBOLA-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3_TOPSHOT-UGANDA-HEALTH-EBOLA-1024x575.jpg",1024,575,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3_TOPSHOT-UGANDA-HEALTH-EBOLA-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3_TOPSHOT-UGANDA-HEALTH-EBOLA-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?cat=7\" rel=\"category\">Stories<\/a>","tag_info":"Stories","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1762","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1762"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1762\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1763"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1762"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1762"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1762"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}