BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – According to the World Health Organization, the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Congo could be contained within three months, provided that response efforts are adequately resourced. The latest official figures report 5,021 confirmed cases and 2,378 deaths as of Aug. 16. The epidemic now affects 55 health zones across six provinces, with the case fatality ratio reaching 47.4%. This makes it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country’s history and the second-largest Ebola epidemic worldwide.
Thierno Baldé, WHO incident manager, emphasized that achieving the three-month containment goal hinges on acquiring the necessary resources. The agency has secured roughly $69.3 million of the $115 million required, which is about 60%. Over the past two weeks, teams have added more than 400 treatment beds, deployed 100 additional epidemiologists, and mobilized over 500 community health workers to bolster surveillance and contact tracing efforts. The response needs a fleet of vehicles, ambulances, medical supplies, and personnel to support the expanding affected regions.
Transmission has now reached Bas-Uélé, making it the sixth affected province. As of Aug. 12, Ituri was responsible for 85% of confirmed cases and 79% of the reported deaths nationwide. Officials have indicated that 70% to 80% of new cases lack any known connection to existing patients. Authorities are intensifying surveillance measures to detect cases more rapidly and facilitate their transfer to treatment centers. The first confirmed case in Bas-Uélé traveled from Haut-Uélé before developing symptoms on Aug. 4.
Response efforts expand across affected regions
The Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared the outbreak on May 15. Laboratory testing in Kinshasa identified Bundibugyo virus, a rarer strain of Ebola first discovered in western Uganda in 2007. Since 1976, Congo has experienced 17 recorded Ebola outbreaks. Uganda has reported 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, with no new cases since June 21. Those cases involved imported infections and secondary transmissions among contacts and healthcare workers.
Bundibugyo virus disease currently lacks a licensed vaccine or a specific approved treatment. Consequently, response strategies emphasize early detection, supportive care, infection prevention, contact tracing, and safe burials. Authorities are also increasing community outreach efforts, especially where patients initially seek help outside formal health facilities. Response teams have trained local workers and provided hygiene supplies to reduce exposure during transportation and body handling. Early supportive treatment can significantly improve survival chances for those infected with Bundibugyo virus disease.
Funding shortfall persists despite expanded surveillance
While contact tracing has improved, it still falls short of public health targets in several affected zones. On Aug. 12, teams monitored 17,460 of 20,740 contacts listed, achieving a follow-up rate of 84.2%. To enhance detection and reduce the delay between symptom onset and treatment, health officials have deployed additional epidemiologists and community workers to identify suspected cases and connect patients with care facilities. As of Aug. 9, there have been 155 infections among health workers and 45 deaths.
The WHO designated the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17. Ongoing efforts involve surveillance, laboratory testing, clinical management, safe burials, and community engagement by national authorities and international partners. The three-month containment outlook directly depends on securing the necessary resources, according to Baldé. Since Aug. 9, the weekly report recorded 640 new confirmed cases and 367 additional confirmed deaths. The response continues amidst ongoing insecurity and attacks targeting health services in eastern Congo.