Congo Ebola Outbreak Death Toll Reaches 80 in Ituri Province

Congo's new Ebola outbreak in eastern Ituri province has killed at least 80 people, with 246 suspected cases reported as of Saturday. Health workers are intensifying screening and contact tracing to contain the disease. Officials announced the outbreak on Friday, initially reporting 65 deaths. The Bundibugyo virus variant, less prominent in past outbreaks, has been confirmed in eight laboratory cases, including four deaths. This is Congo's 17th Ebola outbreak since the disease first emerged in the country in 1976. In Bunia, the provincial capital, residents describe constant burials, with two to three or more deaths per day. Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba confirmed the situation late Friday. Ebola is highly contagious through bodily fluids and often fatal.