GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – World Health Organization has called for an expanded Ebola intervention in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as the virus continues to spread across multiple provinces. As of September 1, government data confirms there have been 6,250 confirmed cases and 3,039 fatalities. The outbreak has impacted 60 health zones within six provinces. Additionally, authorities have documented 1,439 recoveries, with a case fatality rate of 48.6%.
Congo’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is now its largest and most lethal to date, also ranking as the second-largest Ebola epidemic worldwide, after the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak. Ituri province remains the primary epicenter, accounting for roughly 85% of confirmed cases and 88% of deaths reported, thus making it the most severely affected region during this ongoing health crisis.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted that health teams have yet to trace every transmission chain. Many recent fatalities involved individuals not listed on known contact logs. The ongoing community deaths and unsafe burials continue to hinder containment efforts. According to Africa CDC, over 60% of deaths in the past week occurred within communities rather than healthcare facilities.
Response measures ramp up amid ongoing outbreak
The World Health Organization has increased laboratory testing, treatment capacity, and field operations in affected zones. More than 330 tonnes of emergency supplies have been dispatched, and over 300 experts deployed. Currently, there are 24 laboratories functioning closer to the communities impacted by Ebola, compared to only one national reference lab at the start of the response. Daily testing capacity is now approximately 3,000 tests, with treatment and isolation beds surpassing 1,300 across 49 facilities.
Bundibugyo virus currently lacks an approved vaccine or specific treatment options. Researchers are engaged in therapeutic studies, and two vaccine candidates are currently undergoing safety evaluations. Efforts continue in contact tracing, testing, clinical care, infection prevention, and safe burial practices. Community engagement efforts are also expanding, as delayed detection can leave infected individuals outside the scope of formal monitoring and hinder quick identification of transmission links.
Transmission persists despite decreasing case numbers
Transmission remains active in 51 health zones, although recent weeks have seen a decline in new cases. Four zones have reported no new infections for over 42 days and have successfully interrupted transmission chains. Five additional zones have remained free of new cases for between 21 and 42 days. Public health officials caution that this downward trend does not yet confirm the outbreak’s containment, and surveillance continues across all affected provinces.
The Congo government declared the outbreak in Ituri province on May 15 after confirming infections involving the Bundibugyo virus. The epidemic has since spread to North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé, alongside Ituri. Tedros emphasized that the response must broaden until every transmission chain is identified and halted. Authorities remain focused on swift detection, contact follow-up, laboratory diagnosis, safe burials, and providing access to treatment within the affected communities.