Should India Be Worried About Ebola Virus: The world has once again become alert about the Ebola virus. A new outbreak of Ebola has been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and preliminary genetic testing suggests the virus has been spreading quietly for weeks, possibly months. The biggest concern is that many questions regarding the behavior of this new strain and its potential have still not been answered. In such a situation, like many countries of the world, the question is being raised in India too whether there is a need to fear this virus.

How does Ebola virus spread?

According to experts, Ebola is not among those viruses that spread rapidly through air. This virus enters the body only when it comes in direct contact with the blood, saliva, feces, urine or other bodily fluids of an infected person. Dr. David Hayman, an expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who studied Ebola for the first time in 1976, says that this virus spreads from person to person mainly through bodily fluids. This is why health workers and family members who take care of patients are most at risk.

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How does it spread in the body?

After entering the body, the virus directly attacks the immune system. According to Dr. Bodo Plakhter, virology professor at the University of Mainz, Germany, the virus first increases its numbers in the lymph glands and then reaches different parts of the body through the blood. It targets cells that under normal circumstances protect the body from infection. When this immune system becomes weak, the virus starts spreading rapidly throughout the body.

Why is it difficult to identify?

The biggest challenge of Ebola is its initial symptoms. Initially the patient may feel problems like normal fever, cold, infection or malaria. Sometimes the patient feels relief for some time, but after this the disease can take a serious form. According to Dr. David Heman, in the later stages a situation like bleeding from various parts of the body may arise. This is the time when the patient is most infectious and the risk of spreading the infection increases.

What is the situation in India?

Now the question is how much India should fear. As of May 2026, no confirmed case of Ebola has been reported in India. According to the assessment of experts of clinikk, a website providing information about health, at present the direct threat to the Indian population is less. Surveillance systems at the country’s major airports, health screening, rapid testing facilities in major hospitals and the World Health Organization’s warning system are helping in identifying possible cases. However, in view of travel and trade relations with African countries, it is considered necessary to maintain vigilance.

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Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.

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The Central African country Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is once again battling the outbreak of Ebola virus infection. Congolese health officials said that this time the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak is Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, where new treatment centers have been set up to treat the affected people. Officials said the aim of these centers is to reduce the pressure on hospitals handling the increasing number of patients.

Congo’s health minister gave information about the situation

According to the BBC report, DR Congo’s Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said while talking to the news agency Associated Press on Sunday (May 17, 2026), ‘This morning we have brought all the tents, so that treatment centers can be set up. We know that hospitals are already under pressure due to the increasing number of patients. I want to tell the people here that at present 59 patients are being actively treated, but we are still preparing the treatment centers so that we can further increase our capabilities.

What did the World Health Organization representative say??

Anne Ansia, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative in DR Congo, said, ‘This equipment is part of the initial response and will not be enough. We have evacuated our entire stock present in Kinshasa and sent it to Congo. Now we are preparing a C-130 cargo aircraft, which is currently in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. It is being loaded in our depot there. After this it will go to Kinshasa and deliver more equipment there.

2300 people died due to virus in 2018-20

According to the BBC report, DR Congo has a lot of experience in dealing with Ebola, as this is the 17th outbreak of the virus in the country so far. Ebola was first identified in Congo in 1976 and it is believed that it was spread by bats. The country saw the worst outbreak of this virus between 2018 and 2020, in which about 2,300 people died.

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The Democratic Republic of Congo, the country of Africa, has once again been a victim of terrorism. Terrorists associated with the Islamic State (ISIS) have brutally murdered 66 people in the eastern part of the Congo. Local authorities have also confirmed the death of people in the terrorist attack.

Fighters of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) associated with terrorist organization ISIS have carried out the attack in the eastern Iramu area of the country bordering Uganda. Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) is an Islamic terrorist organization of Uganda, which has been associated with ISIS since 2019 and is active on either side of the open borders between Congo and Uganda.

What did the chairman of the local civil society say about the attack,

According to the Times of Israel, local civil society president Marsel Paluku said about the attack, “All the people have been murdered by killing Macheti (knife) in this terrorist attack and a large number of women and children are also included in the deaths.” He said, “It is not yet clear how many people have been taken hostage after the terrorist attack and how many people are missing.”

United Nations Mission spokesperson made a statement about the attack

At the same time, the United Nations (UN) Mission spokesman Jean Tobby Okala has also given a statement to the terrorist attack in this East Iramu area of Congo. Okala has called this terrorist attack a flood of blood.

Joint forces of Congo and Uganda took military action

According to the Times of Israel, the attack is believed to be in response to the recently launched bombing campaign by the joint forces of Congo and Uganda. Whereas, on Thursday and Friday (July 10-11, 2025), about 30 people were killed in the same area of Congo, which has now increased to 66.

This terrorist attack took place at a time when the long -standing struggle with the M23 rebellious faction in Eastern Congo was being expected to end. The M23 rebels have the support of Rwanda, the neighbor of the Congo.

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