No Ebola cases found on quarantined river boat, Congo authorities say

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have confirmed that no cases of Ebola were found among passengers on a quarantined river boat near Kinshasa, easing concerns of potential spread of the rare Bundibugyo virus, the official said on Saturday, August 8, 2026. The boat was placed in quarantine in the port of Maluku, 65 kilometers from Kinshasa, after one traveller who was previously aboard the boat died with symptoms matching the Ebola virus.

Specialists from the Ministry of Health examined all passengers on board, and those exhibiting suspicious symptoms had samples taken for analysis in a laboratory. The National Institute of Biomedical Research, responsible for testing, reported that all suspected cases tested negative for Bundibugyo. The Congolese capital has not reported any confirmed Ebola cases, the Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya added on Thursday, August 6, noting that the outbreak in the eastern region is the fastest in history with over 4,200 confirmed cases and more than 1,900 deaths.