BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has reported that 80% of recent Ebola infections in eastern Congo stem from unidentified transmission chains. Many patients did not appear on contact tracing lists before testing confirmed their infection, creating a gap that hampers early isolation and delays treatment for symptomatic individuals. Health teams often only identify new clusters after patients have visited clinics or died within their communities. This outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus, a less prevalent strain of Ebola.
As of July 13, Congo had documented 2,011 confirmed cases and 754 fatalities. The province of Ituri remains the epicenter, with 1,808 cases and 631 deaths. North Kivu reported 182 cases and 106 deaths, while South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo also recorded cases. Authorities have placed 753 patients in isolation and noted 366 recoveries. Response teams are actively monitoring approximately 67% of contacts identified in the most affected regions.
Contact tracing plays a crucial role in allowing health workers to identify and manage exposed individuals before they can further spread the virus. Typically, contacts are monitored for 21 days following the last exposure. WHO reported that 92.3% of 430 deaths investigated through July 5 occurred outside hospitals or prior to hospital admission. These fatalities reduce opportunities for prompt testing and isolation. Ebola spreads mainly through direct contact with infected blood or bodily fluids, and contaminated objects can also transmit the virus.
Five provinces report confirmed cases
The epidemic has affected 45 health zones across five provinces. In Ituri, cases have been identified in 26 zones, while North Kivu reports infections in 11 zones. Haut-Uele has recorded 14 cases and 13 deaths, Tshopo reports four cases and three fatalities, and South Kivu has three cases with one death. The widespread distribution of cases has increased demands on laboratories, treatment facilities, and mobile surveillance teams.
By July 14, Uganda confirmed 20 cases and two deaths related to the outbreak. Seventeen patients had recovered, with the latest confirmed case recorded on June 21. Fifteen infections were linked to travel to Congo, while five cases resulted from local transmission events. Ugandan health authorities have found no evidence of community-wide spread and continue to monitor travelers and aid workers leaving affected zones.
Enhanced testing and clinical strategies underway
There is currently no licensed vaccine or approved treatment specifically for Bundibugyo virus. Medical teams focus on supportive care, including fluids, oxygen, electrolyte replacement, and other treatments. WHO added the first molecular diagnostic test for the virus to its Emergency Use Listing on July 2. Presently, ten laboratories support testing across the affected regions, with a combined capacity exceeding 2,000 tests daily. Researchers have also initiated a clinical trial involving remdesivir and the antibody therapy MBP134.
Congo’s government, WHO, and Africa CDC continue their joint efforts in surveillance, testing, treatment, safe burials, and public awareness campaigns. Challenges such as insecurity, displacement, and frequent movements in mining areas hinder access to some communities. Strikes among health workers have also affected response efforts. WHO has received roughly 40% of its $115 million funding appeal. Authorities remain focused on accelerating case detection, as most new infections continue to occur outside established transmission chains.