BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization states that Congo’s Ebola outbreak could still be contained within three months if sufficient resources are provided to response teams. According to the latest official data, there have been 5,021 confirmed cases and 2,378 deaths as of Aug. 16. The outbreak now affects 55 health zones across six provinces, with a case fatality ratio reaching 47.4%. This makes it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the history of the country and the second-largest Ebola epidemic recorded worldwide.
Thierno Baldé, WHO incident manager, emphasized that achieving the three-month containment target depends heavily on obtaining the necessary response resources. The organization has secured approximately $69.3 million out of the $115 million required, representing about 60%. Over the past two weeks, teams have added more than 400 treatment beds. They have also deployed 100 additional epidemiologists along with over 500 community health workers to enhance surveillance and contact tracing efforts. The ongoing response demands vehicles, ambulances, medical supplies, and personnel working across an expanding affected region.
Transmission has now reached Bas-Uélé, marking it as the sixth affected province. As of Aug. 12, Ituri accounted for 85% of confirmed cases and 79% of reported deaths nationwide. Authorities have reported that 70% to 80% of new cases lack a known connection to existing patients. Consequently, health teams are expanding surveillance activities to identify cases more rapidly and transfer patients to treatment centers. The first confirmed case in Bas-Uélé had traveled from Haut-Uélé before symptoms appeared on Aug. 4.
Efforts intensify across the 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 tests in Kinshasa confirmed the presence of Bundibugyo virus, a less common Ebola strain first identified in western Uganda in 2007. Since the virus was discovered in 1976, this represents Congo’s 17th recorded Ebola outbreak. 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 healthcare workers.
Bundibugyo virus disease currently lacks a licensed vaccine or specific approved treatment. As a result, care emphasizes early detection, supportive therapy, infection prevention, contact tracing, and safe burials. Officials are also expanding community outreach efforts, especially where patients initially seek help outside formal health facilities. Response teams have trained local workers and supplied hygiene materials to minimize exposure during patient transport and body handling. Prompt supportive care can significantly improve survival rates among those infected with Bundibugyo virus disease.
Resource gaps persist despite expanded surveillance
While contact monitoring has improved, it still falls short of public health goals in several affected zones. On Aug. 12, teams tracked 17,460 of the 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 more epidemiologists. Community health workers are also being used to report suspected cases and facilitate patient referrals to treatment centers. By Aug. 9, there had been 155 infections among health workers and 45 deaths.
The WHO officially declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17. Continued efforts involve surveillance, laboratory testing, clinical care, safe burials, and community engagement by national authorities and international partners. Baldé linked the success of the three-month containment plan directly to securing the needed resources. The latest weekly update reports 640 additional confirmed cases and 367 confirmed deaths since Aug. 9. The response continues amidst ongoing insecurity and attacks targeting health services in eastern Congo.