GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – World Health Organization has emphasized the urgent need for a broader response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, health teams have yet to trace all transmission pathways. As of September 1, the government reported 6,250 confirmed cases and 3,039 fatalities. The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak now impacts 60 health zones across six provinces.
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 emergency supplies have been delivered, and a team of more than 300 experts has been deployed. Laboratory capacity has been expanded from a single national reference lab to a network of 24 laboratories situated closer to impacted communities. Currently, testing can be conducted at approximately 3,000 tests daily, while treatment and isolation facilities now offer more than 1,300 beds across 49 locations.
Response efforts intensify amidst ongoing outbreak
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which presently lacks approved specific treatments or vaccines. Ongoing research includes therapeutic trials, and vaccine candidates targeting this virus are currently undergoing safety evaluations. Health authorities continue to prioritize surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing, clinical management, and safe burial practices. Community engagement remains a vital component, as delayed detection and incomplete contact follow-up have complicated efforts to identify infected individuals before further transmission occurs.
The outbreak was officially declared in Ituri province on May 15, following confirmation of infections associated with the Bundibugyo virus. Since then, it has spread to North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé provinces. Tedros stressed that the response must grow until all transmission chains are identified and broken. Efforts are continually focused on rapid detection, diligent contact follow-up, safe burials, laboratory diagnostics, and ensuring treatment access in affected communities.