Meanwhile, the M23 rebel group that controls parts of the east of DR Congo has announced new restrictions on movement between government-held and rebel-held areas of North Kivu province.

Shared taxis and passenger boats between the areas will be suspended for one month starting on Saturday.

Other transport will continue to operate under strict health controls.

The measures follow reports that two travellers tested positive for Ebola in a village under M23 control. The rebel authorities said the restrictions were necessary to prevent further spread.

The move highlights the complexity of tackling Ebola amid ongoing hostilities between the Congolese government and the rebels.

The M23 alliance, which captured Goma and Bukavu in early 2025, has sought to demonstrate its administrative capacity by mounting a parallel Ebola response in territories under its control.

In late June, the rebel authorities declared their zones Ebola-free.

Ebola is a rare but deadly viral disease and the Bundibugyo species is even rarer, with only two known prior outbreaks.

Symptoms of Ebola, which are similar to the flu or malaria, include fever, headache and tiredness, and can begin suddenly within two to 21 days of infection.

As the disease progresses, vomiting and diarrhoea can develop, leading to organ failure. Contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood or vomit causes the virus to spread.