An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed at least 131 people, with more than 513 suspected cases reported, according to local officials, as health authorities warn that the virus is spreading into new regions and raising concerns of wider regional transmission.
A government spokesperson said infections are now being recorded across a broader geographical area, including Nyakunde in Ituri province, Butembo in North Kivu, and the eastern city of Goma. Health teams are working to trace contacts and monitor suspected cases as the outbreak continues to expand.
The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak, linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a public health emergency of international concern. While the agency has not classified it as a pandemic, it warned that the situation could develop into a much larger outbreak if containment measures fail.
Uganda has also confirmed two cases and one death, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, highlighting growing cross-border transmission risks in the region.
Authorities in DR Congo have sought to reassure the public that response teams are actively engaged in surveillance, treatment, and containment operations. However, health experts say the increasing spread to new districts has heightened anxiety among communities already dealing with fragile healthcare systems.
Among those affected is an American doctor working with a medical missionary group in the country. The individual, identified by the organisation as Dr Peter Stafford, has tested positive for Ebola and is expected to be transferred to Germany for treatment, according to reports. The CDC said it is assisting in the “safe withdrawal” of a small number of US nationals exposed during the outbreak but has not disclosed exact figures.
At least six Americans are believed to have been exposed, according to US media reports. Some of them, including Dr Stafford’s wife, Dr Rebekah Stafford, are reportedly under quarantine while remaining asymptomatic.
US authorities are coordinating emergency evacuation and quarantine arrangements, with reports suggesting that exposed individuals may be transported to a US military facility in Germany, though this has not been officially confirmed.
The CDC has assessed the risk to the United States as relatively low, but has introduced monitoring measures for travellers arriving from affected regions, including Uganda, DR Congo, and South Sudan. Entry restrictions may also apply to non-US citizens who have recently been in these countries.
Airlines and health agencies have been instructed to assist with contact tracing, testing, and preparedness planning. The United States has issued a Level Four travel advisory, warning against all travel to DR Congo.
Health officials have also stressed the importance of safe burial practices, warning that traditional funeral rituals involving contact with bodies have historically played a major role in Ebola transmission.
Neighbouring countries, including Rwanda and Nigeria, have increased border screening and surveillance as a precautionary step amid fears of further spread across central and west Africa.
