GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has called for a major expansion of the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, health teams still have not identified every transmission chain. As of Sept. 1, the latest government figures report 6,250 confirmed cases and 3,039 deaths. The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak now impacts 60 health zones across six provinces.
This outbreak has become Congo’s most significant and deadliest Ebola epidemic on record. It also ranks as the second-largest Ebola outbreak worldwide, following the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa. Ituri continues to be the epicenter, responsible for about 85% of cases and 88% of fatalities. Tedros highlighted that many deaths involve individuals not listed as known contacts, indicating ongoing missing links in the transmission chains.
Obstacles to containment remain substantial, notably community deaths and unsafe burials. Africa CDC reports that over 60% of deaths in the most recent seven-day span occurred within communities. Challenges also persist in early detection and timely treatment, with health officials noting delays in identifying infections and bringing patients to care centers. The latest government data from Congo shows 1,439 recoveries and a case fatality rate of 48.6%, demonstrating the severe impact of the Bundibugyo virus.
Active transmission persists in eastern Congo
Transmission remains ongoing in 51 health zones, despite recent indications of decreasing case numbers. Four zones have not reported new cases for over 42 days and have halted transmission. An additional five zones have gone between 21 and 42 days without new cases. Public health officials caution that this decline is still too recent to confirm that the Ebola outbreak nationwide is under control.
The WHO has scaled up testing, treatment, and field support throughout affected regions. More than 330 tonnes of emergency supplies have been shipped, and over 300 experts have been deployed. Laboratory capacity has expanded from a single national reference lab to a network of 24 laboratories situated closer to affected communities. Daily testing capacity now reaches approximately 3,000 tests, while treatment and isolation facilities have increased to over 1,300 beds across 49 sites.
Response efforts grow amid ongoing outbreak
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which currently lacks an approved specific treatment or vaccine. Researchers are engaged in therapeutic trials, and vaccine candidates targeting the Bundibugyo virus are undergoing safety assessments. Ongoing surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing, clinical management, and safe burial operations continue to be prioritized. Community engagement remains critical, as delayed detection and incomplete contact follow-up have hindered 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. Since then, the virus has spread to North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé provinces. Tedros emphasized that the response must be intensified until health teams can identify and interrupt every transmission chain. Authorities remain focused on rapid detection, contact follow-up, safe burials, laboratory diagnosis, and ensuring treatment access throughout the affected communities.