Ebola outbreak: Maltese aid workers prepare initial measures

Press information

18 May 2026

Cologne/Mahagi. Following the World Health Organization's (WHO) declaration of a public health emergency of international concern, Malteser International staff in the Democratic Republic of Congo are preparing to protect the population from the Ebola outbreak in the northeastern province of Ituri. "We are observing that the virus is currently spreading rapidly. More than 100 people have already died, and the actual number is likely to be significantly higher. Ebola is a disease that is easily transmitted through bodily fluids. Therefore, we will further expand the water supply in health centers and communities and distribute personal protective equipment for healthcare workers. At the border with Uganda, we will distribute disinfectant, gloves, masks, and soap, and set up handwashing stations," says Ludmila Lobkowicz, health expert at Malteser International.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, 107 people have died in recent days, presumably from the Bundibugyo variant of the Ebola virus. There is currently no vaccine against this pathogen. The mortality rate is around 37 percent. More than 400 people have contracted the virus. Armed conflict has plagued the Ituri province for years, and thousands of people have been displaced, facilitating the spread of the virus.

Following the first Ebola death in Uganda in recent days, Malteser International is also examining further measures along the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. “We can now begin providing initial aid. But to better protect the people in the border region between the DRC and Uganda, we must significantly expand prevention efforts, strengthen cross-border cooperation, and provide targeted support to health systems. For this, we urgently need additional funding,” says Kees Zevenbergen, Program Director of Malteser International.

Malteser International has been supporting people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 70 percent of the population lives in poverty, since 1996. Its staff primarily work to strengthen the local health system.

The people in the affected region urgently need donations:

Maltese Relief Service e. V.
IBAN: DE10 3706 0120 1201 2000 12
Keyword “Congo”

Online: www.malteser.de