The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, MONUSCO, has stepped up logistical and operational support for the country’s response to a new Ebola outbreak, as health authorities race to contain infections in the eastern province of Ituri.
The government of Democratic Republic of the Congo declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on 16 May, triggering an emergency response coordinated with international partners amid rising case numbers and renewed concerns over regional health security.
MONUSCO said it has deployed aircraft, logistics support and community-protection teams to assist national authorities. In the first four days of operations, the mission airlifted nearly 20 tonnes of medical supplies to Bunia, including personal protective equipment, laboratory materials, medicines and tents.
The mission also transported vehicles to strengthen field operations, aiming to improve mobility for health teams working in remote and high-risk areas.
The outbreak comes against the backdrop of decades of recurring Ebola epidemics in the DRC, which has recorded more outbreaks of the disease than any other country since it was first identified there in 1976.
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The most severe recent outbreak, between 2018 and 2020 in North Kivu and Ituri, killed more than 2,200 people and became the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded globally.
Health authorities say the current outbreak has already shown worrying indicators. Official data cited by response teams report 457 suspected cases and 33 recent deaths, including four confirmed infections, bringing total fatalities linked to the outbreak to 131.
Officials have warned that fragile health systems, insecurity, and population movement continue to complicate containment efforts in eastern Congo, where access to affected communities can be difficult.
Unlike some previous Ebola responses, authorities say there is currently no specific treatment or vaccine available for the strain involved in the latest outbreak, increasing reliance on rapid detection, isolation and preventive public health measures.
Alongside logistical assistance, MONUSCO peacekeepers have launched community awareness campaigns in affected areas including Tchabi and Fataki, where teams are engaging residents and displaced populations.
Using loudspeakers and local outreach, MONUSCO personnel have been urging communities to avoid physical contact, maintain hygiene practices such as regular handwashing, and report suspected cases quickly to health workers.
The mission’s messaging also highlights risks associated with bushmeat consumption, which health officials have long identified as a potential transmission pathway for Ebola outbreaks in Central Africa.
MONUSCO said its support is aimed at reinforcing national response capacity and protecting vulnerable populations, in line with its civilian protection mandate in the DRC.
The Ebola virus disease outbreak continues to prompt heightened surveillance across the region, with authorities stressing that strict adherence to prevention measures remains the most effective tool available while scientific investigations and medical response efforts continue.
