GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – World Health Organization has called for an expanded Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the virus continues to spread through multiple provinces. According to the latest government data, there were 6,250 confirmed cases and 3,039 fatalities by Sept. 1. The outbreak has impacted 60 health zones spread across six provinces. Authorities have also documented 1,439 recoveries, with a case fatality rate of 48.6%.
The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has become the largest and deadliest epidemic in Congo’s history. It ranks as the second-largest Ebola outbreak worldwide, surpassed only by the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa. Ituri province continues to be the primary epicenter of transmission, accounting for about 85% of confirmed cases and 88% of reported deaths, making it the most severely affected region during this emergency.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted that health teams have yet to trace every chain of transmission. Many recent fatalities involved individuals not on known contact lists. Community deaths and unsafe burials are ongoing challenges that hinder containment efforts. According to Africa CDC, over 60% of fatalities during the past week occurred in communities rather than health facilities.
Efforts to Strengthen Ebola Response Are Underway
The World Health Organization has enhanced laboratory testing, treatment capabilities, and field operations across affected zones. More than 330 tonnes of emergency supplies have been delivered, and over 300 experts have been deployed. The response now includes 24 laboratories positioned closer to affected communities, a significant increase from the single national reference lab initially involved. Daily testing capacity has increased to approximately 3,000 tests, and treatment and isolation beds are now available at more than 1,300 across 49 facilities.
Currently, the Bundibugyo virus has no approved vaccine or targeted treatment. Researchers are evaluating therapeutic options, while two vaccine candidates are in safety trial phases. Field teams continue with contact tracing, testing, clinical management, infection prevention, and safe burials. Authorities are also intensifying community engagement efforts to prevent delays in detection, which can allow infected individuals to remain outside formal monitoring and complicate transmission chain identification.
Active Transmission Persist Despite Decline in Cases
Transmission remains ongoing in 51 health zones, though recent weeks have seen a reduction in new cases. Four zones have not reported any new infections for over 42 days and have successfully interrupted transmission. An additional five zones have experienced no new cases for between 21 and 42 days. Public health officials emphasize that these decreases do not yet indicate the outbreak is under control, and surveillance efforts continue across the affected provinces.
Congo announced the outbreak in Ituri province on May 15 following confirmation of infections involving the Bundibugyo virus. The epidemic later spread to North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé, alongside Ituri. Tedros stressed that the response must expand until every transmission chain is identified and halted. Authorities remain focused on rapid detection, contact follow-up, laboratory diagnosis, safe burial practices, and ensuring treatment access within Ebola-affected communities.