Africa's top health agency has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern Ituri province. Around 246 cases and 80 deaths have been reported, mainly in the gold-mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). Ugandan officials confirmed a case of imported Ebola from DRC on Friday, involving a 59-year-old male who died shortly after testing positive.

Ebola, first discovered in 1976 in what is now DRC, spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids and is known for causing severe symptoms including bleeding and organ failure. Symptoms begin with fever, muscle pain, fatigue, headache, and sore throat, progressing to bleeding and severe digestive issues. With no proven cure, the average fatality rate stands at around 50% according to the World Health Organization.

Preliminary tests conducted in Kinshasa detected the virus in 13 of 20 sampled individuals, with further tests pending to identify the strain present. Africa CDC has expressed concern about the outbreak's potential to escalate, especially with significant population movement in the region. Community safety guidelines and cross-border cooperation are essential as the situation develops.