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What is Ebola and why is the outbreak in DRC causing so much concern?

The Guardian UK Monday 17 August 2026, 12:53 UTC By Denis Campbell and Rachel Savage 1 min read
Key Points

Strain of virus with no vaccine has potential to overrun response impeded by conflict and misinformationHealth authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are losing their battle to contain the country’s deadliest Ebola outbreak. DRC’s health ministry declared an outbreak in Ituri province on 15 May, though sequencing shows it had begun in February. It has since spread to five other provinces and is on track to overtake the 2014-16 west Africa outbreak as the largest in history.

Strain of virus with no vaccine has potential to overrun response impeded by conflict and misinformation

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are losing their battle to contain the country’s deadliest Ebola outbreak.

DRC’s health ministry declared an outbreak in Ituri province on 15 May, though sequencing shows it had begun in February. It has since spread to five other provinces and is on track to overtake the 2014-16 west Africa outbreak as the largest in history.

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DRC (ORG) the Democratic Republic of the Congo (LOCATION) Ituri (ORG) west Africa (LOCATION)
Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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