Congo’s Ebola response expands as Bundibugyo transmission remains active. This outbreak has become both Congo’s largest and most lethal Ebola episode on record. It also ranks as the second-largest Ebola outbreak worldwide, following the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa. Ituri remains at the epicenter of the crisis, accounting for roughly 85% of cases and 88% of deaths. Tedros highlighted that many deaths involve individuals not registered as known contacts, indicating ongoing gaps in identifying transmission chains. Challenges such as community deaths and unsafe burials continue to hinder containment efforts. According to Africa CDC, over 60% of fatalities during the most recent seven-day period occurred in community settings. Health authorities have also reported delays in early detection and in transporting patients to treatment centers. Recent government data shows 1,439 recoveries and a case fatality rate of 48.6%, underscoring the severity of the Bundibugyo strain. Ongoing transmission in eastern Congo Even though recent weeks have seen some signs of case decline, transmission persists in 51 health zones. Four zones have not reported new cases for over 42 days and have halted transmission. Additionally, five zones have experienced between 21 and 42 days without new infections. Officials have warned that this decrease is too recent to confirm that the Ebola outbreak nationwide is under control. To combat the outbreak, the WHO has ramped up testing, treatment, and field operations in affected regions. Over 330 tonnes of

In Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo Province, health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have launched a targeted Ebola immunization campaign to stem the deadliest outbreak in the country’s history. Frontline healthcare workers, emergency response teams, and individuals with direct contact to confirmed cases are being prioritized during the initial deployment phase. Health Minister Roger Kamba confirmed that the government has begun using doses of the Ervebo vaccine to protect front-line personnel working in the affected eastern regions.

EU diagnostic support expands as health authorities respond to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. The PCR testing kits will be delivered to the World Health Organization’s Hub for Global Health Emergencies Logistics based in Dubai. WHO will oversee their distribution to regions involved in the Ebola response. PCR diagnostics are vital for confirming infections, as laboratories can process numerous samples efficiently and with high precision. Furthermore, the equipment is compatible with existing laboratory infrastructure. Rapid confirmation of cases allows health teams to identify infected individuals, organize appropriate treatment and isolation, and facilitate contact tracing efforts around confirmed cases.

DR Congo expands its Ebola response as Bundibugyo cases spread across six provinces. Following the government’s request from the global Ebola stockpile, the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision approved the release of these doses. WHO indicated that 20,000 doses will support a Phase 3 clinical trial targeting Bundibugyo virus disease. The remaining 50,000 doses are designated for frontline and healthcare workers in line with current vaccination guidelines. This allocation was announced on Aug. 20, and both WHO and Africa CDC expressed support for it. Ervebo holds approval for Ebola outbreaks caused by the Ebola virus, formerly known as Zaire ebolavirus, but it does not have specific authorization for Bundibugyo virus disease. Laboratory and animal studies suggest the possibility of cross-protection, though the effectiveness in humans remains undetermined. The clinical trial aims to assess the vaccine’s impact during the ongoing outbreak and provide additional evidence for public health decision-making. WHO advises that recipients should be informed about known risks, potential benefits, and the current limitations of the vaccine.

Congo’s Ebola crisis can still be contained within three months if adequate resources are allocated to response teams. The most recent official data reports 5,021 confirmed cases and 2,378 fatalities as of Aug. 16. Currently, cases are distributed across 55 health zones in six provinces, with the case fatality ratio reaching 47.4%. This toll makes it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the history of the country and the second-largest Ebola epidemic ever recorded worldwide.

DRC malaria response targets a disease that caused more than 26 million cases in 2025. The data was issued by the National Malaria Control Programme as health officials intensified malaria intervention efforts in Ituri. Control strategies must persist, according to Dembo, while existing interventions are further strengthened. He highlighted the need for approaches tailored to the specific conditions of individual health zones. The current initiative in Ituri focuses on widespread distribution of antimalarial medications. This campaign was launched as part of broader efforts to prevent and treat malaria. The programme oversees national actions aimed at decreasing infection rates, severe cases, and mortality caused by malaria. World Health Organization estimates indicate that there were 282 million malaria cases globally in 2024, resulting in 610,000 deaths. Africa accounted for approximately 95% of both the world’s malaria cases and fatalities that year. The continent recorded an estimated 265 million cases and 579,000 deaths. Within this region, the Democratic Republic of the Congo contributed to 11.7% of malaria deaths in Africa. According to WHO data, children under five years old represented roughly three quarters of malaria-related deaths across the continent. These statistics place the DRC among the countries with the highest malaria burden worldwide. Continued Malaria Challenges in Africa Malaria primarily spreads through bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes and remains both preventable and treatable. Early symptoms typically include fever, chills, and headaches. Severe infections can lead to breathing difficulties, seizures,