Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Biakato is a village in Mambasa, Ituri.
/Mapcarta
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(see also post #518)
Ituri: 18 people who died of Ebola were buried in Biakato within 24 hours
Mon 05/10/2026 - 08:38
A total of 18 people who died from Ebola virus disease were buried within 24 hours in Biakato, the main town of the Babila-Babombi chiefdom, in the Mambasa territory of Ituri province. Sunday, October 4, 2026, was a particularly tragic day in this area, considered one of the epicenters of the Ebola outbreak.
Biakato remains one of the areas where the spread of the disease is worrying residents as well as authorities at different levels.
During the last week in the territory of Mahagi, also in Ituri as of Friday 02 October 2026, 24 deaths were recorded among the 50 positive cases of Ebola identified in the province since the declaration of the epidemic by the authorities.
The response faced logistical difficulties
Teams involved in the fight against Ebola also report logistical difficulties, including a need for fuel to ensure the operation of vehicles assigned to the response, including an ambulance.
In response to the rise in cases of Ebola virus disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) announces the deployment of a rapid response team in the health zones of Mambasa and Mandima, in Ituri.
According to a WHO press release consulted this Sunday by the Congolese Press Agency, the WHO, in collaboration with UNICEF and with logistical support from WFP, has already delivered essential medicines and personal protective equipment to Mandima in order to strengthen the management and prevention of infections in health facilities.
On the ground, health authorities are urging the population to remain vigilant and adhere to preventative measures, including regular handwashing, promptly reporting any suspicious symptoms, and cooperating with response teams. They are also calling on the public to avoid spreading rumors and to rely on official sources.
More than 4,000 deaths recorded in seven provinces
Nationally, the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo has crossed the threshold of 4,000 deaths, with 4,018 deaths among 8,300 confirmed cases in seven provinces, according to a report from the National Institute of Public Health (INSP).
The case fatality rate reached 48.4%, meaning almost one death for every two confirmed cases.
The affected provinces are Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Bas-Uélé, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo and Sud-Ubangi.
The report also lists 2,162 people who have recovered and 842 patients in isolation or hospitalized. The overall contact tracing rate is 80.6%.
The INSP specifies that this data remains evolving and may be adjusted after consolidation, validation and harmonization of information reported by the provinces and response teams.
Josué Mutanava, in Goma
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12:11 PM · Oct 5, 2026
