BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization states that Congo’s Ebola outbreak can still be contained within three months if response efforts are adequately resourced. According to the latest official report, there have been 5,021 confirmed cases and 2,378 deaths recorded through Aug. 16. The infection has now spread across 55 health zones in six provinces, with the case fatality ratio reaching 47.4%. This makes it the most lethal Ebola outbreak in the country’s history and the second-largest Ebola epidemic documented globally.
WHO incident manager Thierno Baldé emphasized that the three-month containment timeline hinges on securing the necessary resources for the response. The agency has received approximately $69.3 million of the $115 million it estimates it needs, or 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 for surveillance and contact tracing efforts. The response also requires vehicles, ambulances, medical supplies, and personnel across an expanding affected area.
The virus transmission has now reached Bas-Uélé, making it the sixth affected province. As of Aug. 12, Ituri accounted for 85% of confirmed cases and 79% of reported deaths nationwide. Officials have indicated that 70% to 80% of new cases lack any known link to existing patients. To accelerate case detection and patient transfer to treatment centers, health teams are expanding their surveillance activities. The first confirmed case in Bas-Uélé traveled from Haut-Uélé before symptoms appeared on Aug. 4.
Response efforts ramp up across 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 tests in Kinshasa confirmed the presence of Bundibugyo virus, a rarer Ebola strain first identified in western Uganda in 2007. Since the virus was first recognized in 1976, this marks Congo’s 17th recorded Ebola outbreak. Uganda has reported 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, with no new cases since June 21. These cases included imported infections and secondary transmissions among contacts and health workers.
Bundibugyo virus disease currently has no licensed vaccine or approved specific treatment. Therefore, medical care mainly focuses on early detection, supportive treatment, infection prevention, contact tracing, and safe burials. Officials are also intensifying community outreach efforts, especially where patients may initially seek help outside formal health services. Response teams have trained local personnel and distributed hygiene materials to reduce exposure risks during transportation and body handling. Early supportive care can significantly improve survival chances for individuals 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 areas. As of Aug. 12, teams monitored 17,460 of the 20,740 listed contacts, achieving a follow-up rate of 84.2%. To enhance detection and shorten the window between symptom onset and treatment, health officials have deployed more field epidemiologists. Community workers are also being utilized to report suspected cases and connect patients with treatment facilities. By Aug. 9, authorities recorded 155 infections among health workers and 45 deaths.
On May 17, WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Ongoing efforts include surveillance, laboratory testing, clinical care, safe burials, and community engagement led by national authorities and international partners. Baldé underscored that the three-month containment goal is directly linked to securing the necessary resources. The latest weekly report indicates 640 additional confirmed cases and 367 confirmed deaths since Aug. 9. The response continues amid challenges posed by insecurity and attacks on health infrastructure in eastern Congo.