GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has called for an extensive scaling up of the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, health teams are still working to trace every chain of transmission. As of Sept. 1, Congo’s government reported 6,250 confirmed cases and 3,039 deaths. The ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak now impacts 60 health zones across six provinces.
This epidemic is now Congo’s most severe and deadliest Ebola outbreak on record. It ranks as the second-largest Ebola outbreak worldwide, following the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa. Ituri remains the epicenter, accounting for approximately 85% of cases and 88% of deaths. Tedros highlighted that many fatalities involve individuals not listed as known contacts, indicating that transmission chains are still being missed by health teams.
Community deaths and unsafe burials continue to hinder outbreak control efforts. According to Africa CDC, more than 60% of deaths in the recent seven-day span occurred within communities. Health officials also report delays in identifying infections and getting patients to treatment centers. The latest government data from Congo shows 1,439 recoveries and a case fatality rate of 48.6%, illustrating the severe impact of the Bundibugyo virus.
Transmission persists actively in eastern Congo
Transmission remains ongoing in 51 health zones despite signs of fewer cases in recent weeks. Four zones have not reported new cases for over 42 days and have successfully interrupted transmission. An additional five zones have gone between 21 and 42 days without new infections. Officials warn that the recent decline is too brief to confirm that the Ebola outbreak nationwide is under control.
The WHO has increased testing, treatment, and field support across affected regions. Over 330 tonnes of emergency supplies have been shipped, and more than 300 experts deployed. Laboratory capacity has expanded from a single national reference lab to a network of 24 labs closer to communities. Daily testing capacity now reaches about 3,000 tests, and treatment and isolation facilities provide over 1,300 beds in 49 locations.
Outbreak response intensifies as situation continues
The ongoing outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which currently has no approved specific treatment or vaccine. Researchers are testing therapies, and vaccine candidates for the Bundibugyo virus are under safety evaluations. Authorities maintain surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing, clinical care, and safe burial procedures. Community engagement remains crucial, as delays in detection and incomplete contact follow-up complicate efforts to identify infected individuals before further transmission occurs.
Congo announced the outbreak in Ituri province on May 15 after confirming infections linked to the Bundibugyo virus. The virus has since spread to North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé provinces. Tedros emphasized that response efforts must expand until health teams can locate and break every transmission chain. The focus continues on rapid detection, contact follow-up, safe burials, laboratory diagnosis, and treatment access across affected communities.