Mpox case confirmed in northeastern Congolese city at center of Ebola outbreak
A confirmed case of mpox has been identified in Bunia, Congo, raising health concerns as the region simultaneously battles a severe Ebola outbreak. Local health officials are tracing contacts while struggling with the strain the dual epidemics have placed on the healthcare system.
Why it matters
The convergence of two major viral outbreaks in a single region poses a significant threat to public health infrastructure and containment efforts.
A laboratory-confirmed case of mpox was identified in the northeastern Congolese city of Bunia, the director of a local hospital and two health officials said, raising concerns about a resurgence of the disease as the country battles its worst Ebola outbreak on record.
The epidemic caused by the Ebola outbreak was declared on May 15 in Ituri province, where Bunia is located, and has infected 7,890 people and killed 3,799, according to government data published on Thursday, September 24, 2026.
Mpox is a viral disease that causes fever and skin lesions and spreads through close physical contact.
Congo declared an end to mpox as a national public health emergency in April after a three-year outbreak that resulted in more than 34,000 confirmed cases nationwide. Authorities cautioned at the time that the virus had not been eradicated and could resurge.
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