Panic in Kinshasa as nearly 200 boat passengers forced into quarantine after Ebola death

The outbreak is spreading at an "alarming" rate, according to experts. 17:28, Thu, Aug 6, 2026 Updated: 17:28, Thu, Aug 6, 2026 Health authorities in Congo are monitoring passengers from a boat near Kinshasa (Image: Getty)Panic erupted in a major capital city after a person died with symptoms matching the Ebola virus. Congolese health authorities monitored on Thursday passengers travelling on a boat stationed near Kinshasa. Congo has been battling an Ebola outbreak since May, declared the fastest in history in terms of transmission, with confirmed cases reaching 4,000, including over 1,800 deaths, according to Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC.The passenger had disembarked after getting sick in Pimu, in the province of Mongala, more than 621 miles from Kinshasa, Dr Kaseya said today, adding that the capital has no confirmed Ebola case. The boat had been travelling for nearly three weeks along the Congo River with nearly 200 passengers on board. They have been tested for Ebola and are in quarantine while awaiting their results. Dr Kaseya added: “We decided to do that even if some of them didn’t have symptoms because we want to make sure that we don’t miss anything." Get...