Kinshasa, May 25th, 2026 (CPA).- More than 1,300 contact cases linked to the Ebola outbreak remain outside health monitoring, according to the situation report on the disease affecting eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, consulted Monday by CPA. “Out of the 1,745 contacts identified, only 351 were reached by health teams during the day, while 1,394 people remained untraced,” the report stated. According to the source, monitoring exposed persons remains one of the major challenges in the health response in eastern DRC, where only 20 percent of the 1,745 identified contacts have been followed by health teams. Health authorities further specified that among these untraced contacts, “1,294 did not report to follow-up services,” a situation prompting intensified efforts by teams deployed in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu to strengthen community surveillance. According to official data as of May 23rd, 2026, the epidemic totals 101 confirmed cases, including 10 confirmed deaths, as well as 904 cumulative suspected cases and 119 suspected deaths. Eleven health zones remain under reinforced surveillance, notably Bunia, Mongbwalu, Rwampara, Nyankunde, Katwa and Goma. The report also indicates active virus circulation in several Ituri hotspots, where the Rwampara health zone remains the most affected with 32 confirmed cases and 621 monitored contacts, ahead of Bunia with 24 confirmed cases and Mongbwalu with 19 confirmed cases. For May 23rd alone, nine new cases were recorded in Mongbwalu and one additional case in Katwa, North Kivu.
No new confirmed deaths were reported during the same period, according to the source. Contact tracing remains an essential pillar in the Ebola response strategy, with identified persons required to be observed daily throughout the incubation period in order to rapidly detect symptoms and interrupt transmission chains. Health authorities are nonetheless continuing surveillance and awareness activities at various entry points and affected areas. Screening operations, hand washing campaigns and risk communication activities are notably being conducted in Bunia, Rwampara, Tchomia, Nyankunde, Mongbwalu and Aru. On the biological front, Bunia laboratory has already received 418 samples since the start of the outbreak, of which 211 have been analyzed. For May 23rd alone, 70 samples were tested, including 58 blood samples and 12 swabs, the official report stated. The DRC is facing its 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in 1976 in the former Zaire. Previous outbreaks had already demonstrated the importance of community follow-up, regarded as one of the decisive levers for halting virus transmission in affected areas.