What is driving the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo’s Ituri region?

Added: 2026-05-19

[00:00:00]The Ebola outbreak in Central Africa is growing.

[00:00:04]And the World Health Organization has declared it a global health emergency.

[00:00:09]But that is not the same as a pandemic, as it is still contained to Central Africa.

[00:00:15]And unlike the previous outbreaks in Democratic Republic of the Congo, this one is caused by a different and more lethal strain.

[00:00:23]But it's just one of the factors making it harder to contain.

[00:00:28]First, let's see where the virus has spread.

[00:00:31]Ebola's been reported thousands of kilometers from the epicenter in the eastern Ituri province, reaching the capital to Kinshasa.

[00:00:41]And it shares a border with South Sudan, including Uganda, which has also reported Ebola infections.

[00:00:49]Rwanda, on the other hand, has closed its border crossing with DRC in Goma, as nearby countries are stepping up precautions.

[00:00:59]The virus has been detected in the city, which is controlled by M23 armed group.

[00:01:06]But the biggest challenge remains in DRC province of Ituri, which is a remote region with weak health care infrastructure, and it makes getting medical supplies and treatment to affected communities a major challenge.

[00:01:21]The World Health Organization is also concerned about traveling between Ituri and Uganda, especially as many go there for medical care.

[00:01:32]But armed and rebel groups are still fighting in the region, and it's posing a safety risk for health workers, and potentially making it harder to trace contacts and monitor infections.