DR Congo Bans Gatherings Amid Ebola Outbreak Concerns

The Democratic Republic of Congo's Interior Minister, Jacquemain Shabani, announced a ban on mass gatherings in three provinces—Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu—following a surge in Ebola cases. The current outbreak has seen 1,274 confirmed infections and 360 deaths.

The ban was implemented to prevent the virus from spreading to the capital, Kinshasa, which has an estimated population of 18 million. The outbreak has been particularly severe in Ituri, accounting for 90% of infections.

The opposition party, led by Rodrigue Ramazani, has urged citizens to ignore the ban and attend protests against the government. The World Health Organization reported that Uganda has also confirmed Ebola cases, with 20 infections and two deaths.

The Africa CDC announced that a trial for a new antiviral drug will begin soon, as the outbreak is projected to be one of the largest ever, complicated by ongoing conflicts in the region.