BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization reports that Congo’s Ebola outbreak can still be contained within three months, provided that response teams are supplied with sufficient resources. The most recent official figures indicate 5,021 confirmed cases and 2,378 deaths as of Aug. 16. The disease has now spread across 55 health zones in six provinces, with the case fatality ratio climbing to 47.4%. This makes it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the nation’s history, and the second-largest Ebola epidemic recorded worldwide.
Thierno Baldé, WHO incident manager, emphasized that achieving the three-month containment goal hinges on acquiring the necessary resources for the emergency response. Currently, the agency has secured approximately $69.3 million of the $115 million it estimates is needed, which is about 60%. Over the past two weeks, teams have added more than 400 treatment beds to the response capacity. Additionally, they have deployed 100 more epidemiologists and over 500 community health workers to assist with surveillance and contact tracing efforts. The ongoing response demands vehicles, ambulances, medical supplies, and trained personnel spread across the expanding affected regions.
The virus has now reached Bas-Uélé, marking it as the sixth province affected by the outbreak. As of Aug. 12, Ituri accounted for 85% of confirmed cases and 79% of reported deaths nationwide. Officials have indicated that between 70% and 80% of new infections have no known connection to previously identified cases. To accelerate the identification of cases and facilitate patient transfer to treatment centers, health teams are intensifying surveillance efforts. The first confirmed case in Bas-Uélé traveled from Haut-Uélé before exhibiting symptoms on Aug. 4.
Response efforts extend into new affected regions
The Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare of the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced the outbreak on May 15. Laboratory testing carried out in Kinshasa confirmed the presence of Bundibugyo virus, a less common Ebola strain first identified in western Uganda in 2007. This marks Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in 1976. Meanwhile, Uganda has reported 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, with no new cases since June 21. These cases include imported infections and secondary transmissions among contacts and health workers.
Bundibugyo virus disease currently lacks a licensed vaccine and approved specific treatment. The focus of care is thus on early detection, supportive treatment, infection prevention, contact tracing, and safe burials. Authorities are also expanding community outreach efforts, especially where patients may initially seek assistance outside formal healthcare settings. Response teams have trained local personnel and distributed hygiene materials to reduce exposure risk during transport and body handling. Early supportive care can significantly improve survival chances for those infected with Bundibugyo virus disease.
Funding shortages persist despite broader surveillance efforts
While contact monitoring has improved, it still falls short of public health targets in several affected zones. On Aug. 12, teams tracked 17,460 of 20,740 contacts listed, achieving a national follow-up rate of 84.2%. To enhance detection efficiency and reduce the interval between symptom onset and care, health authorities have deployed additional field epidemiologists. Community workers are also being utilized to report suspected cases and facilitate patient transfers to treatment facilities. As of Aug. 9, there have been 155 infections among health workers and 45 related deaths.
The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by WHO on May 17. Ongoing efforts involve surveillance, laboratory testing, clinical treatment, safe burial practices, and community engagement, with national authorities and international partners actively participating. Baldé explicitly linked the success of the three-month containment plan to the availability of sufficient resources. The most recent weekly update reports 640 additional confirmed cases and 367 more deaths since Aug. 9. These efforts continue amidst security challenges and attacks targeting health services in eastern Congo.