Suspected Ebola causes 200 passengers to be isolated in Congo
200 passengers on a river boat have been isolated by the Democratic Republic of Congo after a man died of suspected Ebola, reports Africanews and agencies on August 6th.
Passengers aboard have been placed in isolation and prevented from entering Kinshasa. Laboratory results have been commissioned by the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) and authorities are awaiting results.
The interception and isolation of the river boat was carried out after it carried a man who then died of suspected Ebola.
In a statement released on August 6th, Jean Kaseya , the Director-General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said all passengers aboard have been “tested including those without symptoms” in order to make sure no Ebola infections have been overlooked.
Kaseya also added that that the deployment of vaccines developed against another strain of Ebola – the Zaire strain – is being considered by authorities in order to reduce the outbreak. The current Ebola outbreak has been confirmed to be the Bundibugyo strain which has no approved treatment or vaccine.
Currently no deaths have been recorded amongst vaccine individuals. People who have received the vaccine for the Zaire strain can still contract the Bundibugyo strain but only experience a mild illness according to data compiled by Africa CDC.
Africa CDC’s director also assured people that funds have been committed by the Congolese authorities to pay healthcare workers. This comes after strikes from hospital workers have sprung up over the country. In July 2026, the Elikya Ebola Treatment Center had to pause treatment after healthcare professionals stopped work in protest over poor pay according to AP.
Kaseya highlighted that Africa CDC has been assured that salaries would be given to workers and that response efforts can resume focus on testing and vaccinations.
The latest Ebola outbreak in the Congo began in May 2026 and has resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 people. As of 30th July, World Health Organisation confirmed 3,605 cases of Ebola have been recorded in the country.
Africanews plus agencies, AP, Maghrebi.org
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