M23 Rebels Restrict Movement as Congo Ebola Outbreak Spreads

M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo have imposed new movement restrictions to and from government-held Ebola-affected zones.

The measure follows two travelers from Lubero testing positive for Ebola in M23-controlled territory. Shared taxis on the Goma-Kirumba road will be suspended for one month starting Saturday, as will pirogue boats on certain Lake Edward routes. Taxi-buses and goods trucks will still operate with health controls. The Ebola outbreak is spreading rapidly beyond its Ituri epicentre, with confirmed cases rising sharply in North Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé provinces.

The cumulative number of confirmed infections increased by 103 to 5,208 on August 18, with 2,476 confirmed deaths, resulting in a case-fatality rate of 47.5 percent. The outbreak has expanded into 56 affected health districts nationwide. Health officials describe this as the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak on record. Treatment centers are overwhelmed, facing bed shortages and inadequate facilities, while contact tracing and infection control efforts are challenged.

Congo uses Merck's Ervebo vaccine and is deploying more health workers. The World Health Organization stated on Tuesday that the epidemic is far from being under control and remains a global health emergency. Former President Joseph Kabila has been under US Treasury Department sanctions since April 30, accused by the US administration of seeking to destabilise the Congolese government by collaborating with CRA/M23 rebels.