GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – World Health Organization has urged for a significant escalation of the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, health teams have yet to trace every transmission chain. As of Sept. 1, the government’s latest figures indicate Congo reported 6,250 confirmed cases and 3,039 fatalities. The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak now spans 60 health zones across six provinces.
This outbreak has become the largest and deadliest Ebola crisis in Congo’s history and ranks as the second-largest Ebola epidemic worldwide, following the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa. Ituri remains at the epicenter, responsible for approximately 85% of all cases and 88% of deaths. Tedros highlighted that many fatalities involve individuals not listed as known contacts, underscoring ongoing gaps in identifying transmission pathways.
Major challenges in controlling the outbreak include community deaths and unsafe burial practices. According to Africa CDC, over 60% of fatalities during the most recent seven-day period occurred within communities. Health officials have also reported delays in detecting infections and admitting patients to treatment centers. The latest government data shows 1,439 recoveries and a case fatality rate of 48.6%, illustrating the severe impact of the Bundibugyo strain.
Active transmission persists in eastern Congo
Transmission continues in 51 health zones, despite recent indications of declining case numbers. Four zones have not reported any new cases for over 42 days and have successfully interrupted transmission. Additionally, five zones have experienced no new cases for between 21 and 42 days. Public health authorities warn that the recent decline is too recent to confidently declare the outbreak under control nationwide.
In response, WHO has expanded testing, treatment, and field support efforts across affected regions. Over 330 tonnes of emergency supplies have been dispatched, and more than 300 specialists deployed. Laboratory capacity has increased from one national reference lab to a network of 24 laboratories positioned closer to impacted communities. Daily testing now reaches approximately 3,000 tests, while treatment and isolation facilities now offer more than 1,300 beds across 49 sites.
Response measures intensify amid ongoing outbreak
The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, which presently has no approved specific treatment or vaccine. Ongoing research includes therapeutic trials, while vaccine candidates targeted at the Bundibugyo strain are under safety evaluation. Authorities continue with surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing, clinical management, and safe burial practices. Community engagement remains a core component of the strategy, as delays in detection and incomplete contact follow-up hinder efforts to identify and contain infected individuals before further transmission occurs.
Congo declared the outbreak in Ituri province on May 15 after authorities confirmed cases linked to the Bundibugyo virus. Since then, the virus has spread across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé provinces. Tedros emphasized that the response must broaden until every transmission chain is identified and broken. Continued focus remains on rapid case detection, thorough contact follow-up, safe burial practices, laboratory diagnosis, and ensuring treatment access across affected communities.