Cases continue to grow as death toll rises The official death toll in the DRC has risen to 119, though regional totals add up to 220. The cases are mainly concentrated mainly in the eastern Ituri province.The WHO has declared “very high” international concern. Caption: Bertrand Bisimwa, the M23 coordinator for political and diplomatic affairs, attends a meeting with local authorities and health ministry officials to discuss preventive measures aimed at limiting the spread of the Ebola virus and protecting the population in Goma on
May 17, 2026. A first case of Ebola virus infection has been reported in Goma, a major city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo controlled by the M23 armed group, with the WHO declaring an international health alert on May 17, 2026. According to figures released Saturday by the African Union’s health agency (Africa CDC), 88 deaths likely caused by the virus have been recorded, out of 336 suspected cases. One death has been reported in neighboring Uganda. As the epicenter of the outbreak is
located in a hard-to-reach area, few samples have been tested in laboratories and the figures are based largely on suspected cases. (Photo by Jospin Mwisha / AFP via Getty Images)Photographer: JOSPIN MWISHAProvider: AFP via Getty ImagesSource: AFPCopyright: AFP or licensors
DRC, Ebola, Goma, Ituri, M23, WHO, Africa CDC, May 17, 2026