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NewsWPLG Local 10August 13, 2026Miami-Dade

Ebola outbreak spreads to sixth province in Congo as health worker strikes hinder response

The current Ebola outbreak has reached Bas-Uele province following a death in the capital city of Buta, marking the sixth province affected by the virus. Health officials report that the outbreak is spreading at an alarming rate, with response efforts hampered by unpaid health worker strikes, misinformation, and limited infrastructure.

EbolaPublic HealthCongoDisease OutbreakHealthcare Workers
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Why It Matters

The outbreak is currently the fastest-growing in history, with over 2,100 deaths reported and significant challenges in and medical staffing threatening to expand the virus's reach.

Key Facts

  • The Ebola outbreak has spread to a sixth province, Bas-Uele, following a death in Buta.
  • The current outbreak has resulted in over 2,100 deaths out of more than 4,500 cases.
  • The virus responsible for this outbreak is the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments.
  • Health workers at the Nizi Treatment Center in Ituri province are on strike due to three months of unpaid salaries.
  • The outbreak began in February, months earlier than the official declaration date of May 15.
  • Approximately 90% of all cases and 80% of deaths are concentrated in Ituri province.
  • Clinical trials for two potential treatments and two vaccines for the Bundibugyo virus are currently underway.
  • Africa CDC is supporting the use of the Ervebo vaccine, originally authorized for the Zaire strain, as a potential cross-protection measure.
  • Contact tracing is currently failing, with 60% to 70% of new cases occurring outside of monitored contact groups.

Who's Mentioned

personJean-Jacques Muyembe“Head of Congo’s National Institute for Biomedical Research”organizationMercy Corps“Aid group monitoring border regions”personJean Kaseya“Director general of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention”organizationWorld Health Organization“International health agency monitoring the outbreak”locationIturi“Province with 90% of all cases”locationBas-Uele“Province where the latest Ebola death occurred”