Congo intercepts Ebola-suspect river boat

Congolese health authorities intercepted a river boat near Democratic Republic of the Congo — Kinshasa on August 5-6, 2026, after a passenger who had disembarked earlier died on July 25 with symptoms consistent with Ebola. The boat, carrying over 300 people, was stopped in Maluku, about 65 km upstream from the capital. A mobile laboratory was deployed to screen passengers and crew. Samples from four symptomatic passengers were sent for testing, with results expected on Friday. The suspected case was a 32-year-old man who had traveled from Democratic Republic of the Congo — Kisangani or Democratic Republic of the Congo — Mongala province; officials gave differing accounts of his movements. The incident raised concerns about the spread of the Ebola outbreak to Democratic Republic of the Congo — Kinshasa, a city of over 17 million. Separately, Africa Director General Jean Kaseya announced plans to expand use of a vaccine developed against the Zaire ebolavirus species, citing data suggesting protection against the Bundibugyo species driving the current outbreak, and to expand use of the antiviral drug remdesivir. The outbreak has infected 3,973 people and killed 1,801, according to government data.