Ebola in DRC : new outbreak in the East, Goma affected, and partial border closure with Rwanda

SOS Médias Burundi

Gila, May 18, 2026 — A new Ebola virus disease outbreak has struck eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), affecting the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu and prompting a series of emergency health measures, including the confirmation of cases in Goma and the partial closure of the border with Rwanda. Congolese health authorities report hundreds of suspected cases and several dozen deaths, while the situation is causing serious concern in the Great Lakes region due to cross-border movements and the density of the affected urban areas.

An outbreak officially declared in Ituri

The outbreak was officially declared on May 15, 2026, by the Congolese government, following results confirmed by the Ministry of Health. According to health authorities, approximately 350 suspected cases and 91 deaths have been recorded, making this the 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC.

Tests have identified the Bundibugyo strain, a rare variant of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment, reinforcing the reliance on symptomatic care and preventive measures.

Goma confirmed as a new hotspot

North Kivu provincial authorities confirmed on May 16, 2026, the first case of Ebola virus disease in the city of Goma, the provincial capital and main urban center in the east of the country.

According to authorities, the patient had recently arrived from Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, where the outbreak was already under surveillance. The case was isolated, and contact tracing was immediately launched.

The confirmation of this case in a city as densely populated as Goma, located in the immediate vicinity of the Rwandan border, reinforces fears of a rapid spread of the virus.

A spread facilitated by population movements

The first cases were detected in Ituri, where several patients presented symptoms typical of Ebola, including high fever, vomiting, severe diarrhea, and hemorrhaging. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the virus, triggering the national health response.

However, frequent travel between the eastern provinces and neighboring countries has facilitated the spread of the virus to urban centers, particularly Goma, but also potentially to other border areas.

Goma under heightened surveillance

A strategic city of more than two million inhabitants, Goma is an important economic and humanitarian hub in the Great Lakes region.

Health authorities have strengthened control measures at medical facilities, city entry points, the airport, and border crossings. The confirmed patient has been isolated, and contacts are being monitored by epidemiological surveillance teams.

Partial border closure with Rwanda

Following the confirmation of the case in Goma, partial restrictions have been implemented at the borders between the DRC and Rwanda, particularly at the crossings between Goma and Gisenyi, as well as between Bukavu and Kamembe in South Kivu.

Authorities have restricted cross-border movement, allowing only certain return trips, to reduce the risk of regional spread. These measures directly affect daily trade between the two countries.

A region already vulnerable to health crises

The Great Lakes region has already faced several Ebola outbreaks in the past, notably between 2018 and 2020 in eastern DRC, where health responses were hampered by insecurity and population mobility.

Today, authorities fear a new outbreak in a context marked by mass displacement, high urban density, and limited health infrastructure in some areas.

Call for compliance with health measures

Congolese authorities are calling on the population to remain calm and strictly adhere to preventive measures, including hand hygiene, avoiding physical contact with symptomatic individuals, and promptly reporting suspected cases.

They also reiterate that the Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids and not through the air.

In a fragile regional context, this new Ebola outbreak poses a major challenge to health systems and the coordination of cross-border responses.

Uganda has also confirmed two cases of Ebola, including one death in the capital, Kampala, raising concerns about the virus spreading regionally in East Africa.