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The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that the number of suspected Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 900. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus shared the update on social media on Sunday, noting that intensified surveillance efforts have identified more than 900 suspected patients, with 101 confirmed infections. He did not provide new information on fatalities.
Ebola is a deadly viral disease transmitted through contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals, often causing severe bleeding and organ failure. The Congolese government declared an Ebola outbreak on May 15, identifying the virus as the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or effective treatment.
According to the country’s health ministry, as of Saturday, 867 suspected cases had been recorded across three provinces, resulting in 204 deaths. Over the past five decades, Ebola outbreaks across Africa have claimed more than 15,000 lives.
WHO says suspected Ebola cases in DR Congo exceed 900 amid ongoing outbreak
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo may be spreading faster than initially anticipated. At least 131 people have died so far, and more than 513 suspected cases have been reported as of last Tuesday. A WHO representative, Dr. Ann Ancia, said investigations show the virus has reached new areas, while a death has also been confirmed in neighboring Uganda.
A mathematical model from the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis in London suggests that many infections remain undetected, possibly pushing the real number of cases beyond one thousand. The Red Cross cautioned that without rapid identification of patients and improved public awareness, the situation could quickly spiral out of control. Following an emergency meeting, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi urged citizens to remain calm and vigilant.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern over the outbreak’s scale and speed. The strain currently spreading has no effective vaccine, though WHO is assessing whether other treatments might offer protection.
WHO warns Ebola outbreak in Congo spreading faster than expected
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The outbreak, centered in the eastern Ituri province, has so far resulted in about 246 suspected infections and 80 deaths. WHO reported that the virus, identified as the Bundibugyo strain, has no approved treatment or vaccine. Eight cases have been confirmed in laboratories, and infections have spread to Bunia, Mongwalu, Rwampara, and even the capital Kinshasa. Two confirmed cases have also been detected in neighboring Uganda.
WHO warned that the outbreak could expand rapidly due to population movement, urban transmission, and limited healthcare infrastructure. The organization advised DR Congo and Uganda to establish emergency operations centers to track and isolate cases. Neighboring Rwanda has tightened border health checks, while the U.S. CDC plans to deploy more staff and has issued travel warnings for Ituri province.
WHO urged countries not to impose travel or trade restrictions, emphasizing that such measures lack scientific justification. The agency noted uncertainty about the full extent of infections and geographic spread.
WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo a global health emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has caused several dozen deaths, as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The announcement was made from Geneva, where the organization confirmed that the outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus affecting both Congo and Uganda. However, WHO clarified that the situation has not yet met the criteria to be classified as a pandemic.
According to the WHO statement, the decision reflects the seriousness of the outbreak and the need for coordinated international response, but it does not yet indicate a global health crisis. The organization emphasized that while the spread is concerning, current data do not justify declaring a pandemic-level emergency.
The declaration is expected to mobilize additional resources and international support to contain the virus and prevent further cross-border transmission, particularly between Congo and Uganda.
WHO declares international health emergency over Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda
At least 69 people were killed in a militia attack in the northeastern Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to local and security sources on Saturday. The assault, carried out on April 28 by armed members linked to the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO), targeted several villages. The victims included civilians, militia members, and soldiers. The attack delayed recovery of bodies for several days due to the continued presence of CODECO fighters.
The Ituri province, rich in gold and other minerals, has long been the scene of violent clashes between the Hema and Lendu ethnic groups. Another armed group, the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CRP), had earlier attacked army positions near Pimbo, claiming to defend the Hema community. The United Nations peacekeeping mission MONUSCO condemned the recent deadly assaults on civilians and reported rescuing 200 people trapped during the CRP attack.
Humanitarian agencies report that nearly one million internally displaced people in the province face severe humanitarian crises as violence involving CODECO, CRP, and other armed groups continues to destabilize the region.
At least 69 killed in militia attack in DR Congo’s Ituri province amid ongoing ethnic conflict
At least six people were killed on Tuesday when a tunnel collapsed at the Rubaya coltan mine in the rebel-controlled eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to eyewitnesses cited by AFP from Goma. The incident occurred about 70 kilometers west of Goma in North Kivu province, killing three women and three men and injuring several others.
Witnesses reported that authorities had ordered evacuations following the collapse, and bodies were seen being carried away on stretchers. Many relatives rushed to the site in search of missing workers. The Rubaya mine, one of the largest coltan sources in the country, employs thousands of miners who work in hazardous conditions with minimal equipment.
The mine, which supplies an estimated 15 to 30 percent of global coltan production, has been under the control of M23 rebels since April 2024. This was the second deadly collapse in Rubaya in recent weeks, following a landslide late last month that the government feared had killed at least 200 people.
Six killed in tunnel collapse at rebel-held coltan mine in eastern Congo
A devastating landslide has struck a militia-controlled mine in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with government sources warning that at least 200 people may have died. The incident occurred on Sunday, according to an official statement released by the Congolese government.
Reports from Kinshasa, citing AFP, indicate that the M23 armed group, which re-emerged in 2021, has seized large parts of the mineral-rich eastern territories of the country. Backed by Rwanda, M23 took control of the Rubaya mine in North Kivu province in April 2024, the site where the latest tragedy unfolded.
Authorities have not yet provided details on rescue operations or the exact cause of the landslide, but the scale of the disaster has raised concerns about safety conditions in conflict-affected mining zones.
At least 200 feared dead in landslide at militia-held mine in eastern DR Congo
Hundreds of civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are living with amputations after renewed clashes between government forces and M23 rebels. The violence, concentrated around the mineral-rich North Kivu province, has intensified since M23—allegedly backed by Rwanda—captured Goma and Bukavu earlier this year. Survivors like 25-year-old David Muhire, who lost limbs in a landmine explosion, symbolize the growing humanitarian toll of the conflict.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), more than 800 people injured by weapons, mines, and unexploded ordnance have received treatment in 2025, with over 400 currently rehabilitating at Goma’s Shirika la Umoja center. Despite a U.S.-brokered peace deal signed in Washington on December 4 between Rwanda and the DRC, fighting resumed within days as M23 launched new offensives near the Burundian border.
Aid agencies warn that prolonged warfare is worsening the humanitarian crisis, leaving thousands disabled and dependent on limited medical and prosthetic support. The ICRC continues to call for sustained peace and protection for civilians in the region.
Hundreds in eastern DR Congo lose limbs as M23 violence worsens despite peace deal
At least 32 people were killed when a temporary bridge collapsed at a copper and cobalt mine in the Lualaba province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The incident occurred at the Kalando mine, where workers reportedly ignored a ban on entry due to heavy rains and landslide risks. The collapse happened as a large group of miners rushed across the makeshift bridge, which gave way under their weight. Conflicting reports suggest the death toll may exceed 40. Witnesses said panic erupted after gunfire was heard, allegedly from soldiers at the site. The mine has long been a source of tension between informal miners, a local cooperative, and the legal operators. Authorities have suspended all operations at the site, while human rights groups have called for an independent investigation into the army’s alleged involvement. The provincial government has yet to release a final casualty figure.
At least 32 killed in Congo mine bridge collapse amid calls for probe into army involvement
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