GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has called for an expanded Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the disease continues to spread across multiple regions. By September 1, the government reported a total of 6,250 confirmed cases and 3,039 deaths. The outbreak has impacted 60 health zones within six different provinces. Additionally, authorities have documented 1,439 recoveries, with a case fatality rate of 48.6%.
Congo’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has become the nation’s most significant and fatal Ebola epidemic to date, ranking as the second-largest worldwide after the 2014-2016 West African outbreak. The main hub of transmission remains Ituri province, which accounts for approximately 85% of confirmed cases and 88% of reported deaths, positioning it as the most severely affected region during this health emergency.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that health teams still have not traced every chain of transmission. Many recent fatalities involved individuals who did not appear on known contact lists. Ongoing community deaths and unsafe burials continue to hinder efforts to contain the virus. The Africa CDC reported that more than 60% of deaths in the most recent seven-day period occurred within communities rather than health facilities.
Response efforts by health authorities are being intensified
The World Health Organization has increased laboratory testing, treatment capacity, and field operations throughout affected zones. Over 330 tonnes of emergency supplies have been dispatched, and more than 300 experts have been deployed. Currently, 24 laboratories operate closer to affected communities, in contrast to the single national reference lab available at the start of the response. Daily testing capabilities now reach approximately 3,000 tests, with treatment and isolation facilities providing over 1,300 beds across 49 sites.
The Bundibugyo virus has no currently approved vaccine or targeted treatment. Researchers are engaged in therapeutic trials, and two vaccine candidates intended for the virus are undergoing safety assessments. Field teams persist with contact tracing, testing, clinical management, infection control, and safe burial practices. Community engagement efforts are also increasing because delayed detection can leave infected individuals outside formal monitoring systems, complicating the identification of transmission pathways.
Transmission persists despite a decline in new cases
Active transmission continues in 51 health zones, although recent weeks have seen a reduction in new cases. Four zones have reported no new infections for over 42 days and have successfully interrupted transmission chains. Another five zones have remained free of new cases for between 21 and 42 days. Public health officials caution that the recent decline does not yet confirm the outbreak’s overall control, and surveillance remains ongoing across the affected regions.
The outbreak was officially declared in Ituri province on May 15 after authorities confirmed infections related to the Bundibugyo virus. Subsequently, the epidemic spread to North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé, in addition to Ituri. Tedros highlighted that the response efforts must continue to expand until every transmission chain is identified and halted. Authorities maintain a focus on rapid detection, contact follow-up, laboratory diagnostics, safe burials, and providing access to treatment in communities impacted by Ebola.