Congolese authorities are carrying out Ebola and cholera screening for all 255 passengers aboard the Yingfeng 2, a boat operated by a Chinese company, intercepted on the Congo River. The vessel was halted near Bende Bende port, approximately 65km (40 miles) upstream from the capital, Kinshasa.

Quarantine Measures Implemented

Health Minister Roger Kamba stated that screening was being conducted as a precautionary measure after a passenger with fever and diarrhoea, who had left the boat in Mongala Province, died in hospital. A further two adults, a three-year-old child, and a newborn have also died, raising concerns among health officials.

Teams from the health ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO) have boarded the boat and established a mobile lab to conduct tests; Kamba told reporters, “For now, no-one has tested positive, and it is likely no one will be positive after 21 days of incubation has elapsed.”

Travel History and Virus Outbreak

Kamba also noted that the vessel departed from Mongala in north-western DR Congo 22 days ago, where there have been no Ebola cases, contrary to earlier reports. The passenger had already been traveling on the boat for several days before being taken to Pimu health zone for treatment, still in Mongala.

The boat traveled more than 1,700km downstream toward Kinshasa before being intercepted. Security services have been instructed to quarantine the Yingfeng 2 offshore in line with WHO standards to prevent potential spread of the virus into the capital. Public health teams remain on standby to act once the boat is secured.

Current Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo

The country has been dealing with its 17th Ebola outbreak since 15 May, as this outbreak has been caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of the virus, which had not been seen for over a decade. There are currently no drug treatments that specifically target Bundibugyo, nor does it have a vaccine, although the first human trials for one are currently underway in the UK.

Three months since the outbreak was declared, infections and deaths continue to rise; Official figures show that there have been 3,973 confirmed cases and 1,801 deaths—the second deadliest Ebola outbreak. Currently, more than 17,000 people are under monitoring after coming into contact with Ebola cases, with 674 patients in isolation or treatment across five provinces and 776 recoveries, according to authorities.

In Kinshasa, preparations for a possible Bundibugyo response are intensifying, with surveillance and rapid-response capacity being reinforced at Maluku, the city’s main entry point; Officials have reiterated that the measures are precautionary, but they highlight the gravity of the situation.