BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization states that Congo’s Ebola outbreak can be contained within three months if response efforts are adequately resourced. The most recent official figures indicate 5,021 confirmed cases and 2,378 deaths as of Aug. 16. The cases are now distributed across 55 health zones in six provinces, with a case fatality ratio of 47.4%. This makes it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the nation’s history and the second-largest Ebola epidemic recorded worldwide.
According to WHO incident manager Thierno Baldé, the three-month containment goal hinges on acquiring the necessary resources for response activities. The agency has currently received about $69.3 million of the $115 million needed, roughly 60%. Over the past two weeks, teams have added more than 400 treatment beds. They also deployed 100 additional epidemiologists and over 500 community health workers for surveillance and contact tracing. The effort demands vehicles, ambulances, medical supplies, and personnel to cover an expanding affected region.
Transmission has now reached Bas-Uélé, making it the sixth affected province. As of Aug. 12, Ituri accounted for 85% of confirmed cases and 79% of deaths reported nationwide. Officials note that 70% to 80% of new cases have no known connection to existing patients. Efforts are underway to enhance surveillance capabilities to identify cases more rapidly and transfer patients into treatment centers. The first confirmed case in Bas-Uélé traveled from Haut-Uélé before symptoms appeared on Aug. 4.
Efforts expand across impacted regions
The Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare of the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced the outbreak on May 15. Laboratory testing in Kinshasa confirmed the presence of Bundibugyo virus, a less common Ebola strain first identified in western Uganda in 2007. This marks Congo’s 17th recorded Ebola outbreak since the virus was first discovered in 1976. Uganda has reported 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, with no new cases since June 21. These cases included imported infections and secondary transmissions among contacts and healthcare workers.
Bundibugyo virus disease currently lacks a licensed vaccine or specific approved treatment. Consequently, care centers on early detection, supportive care, infection prevention, contact tracing, and safe burials. Authorities are also expanding community outreach efforts, especially where patients may initially seek help outside formal health facilities. Response teams have trained local workers and provided hygiene supplies to reduce exposure risks during transport and body handling. Early supportive care has the potential to improve survival rates among those infected with Bundibugyo virus disease.
Funding shortfall persists despite increased surveillance
While contact tracing has improved, it still falls short of public health targets in several affected areas. On Aug. 12, teams followed 17,460 out of 20,740 contacts listed, achieving a follow-up rate of 84.2%. Health officials have increased the deployment of epidemiologists in the field to boost detection and reduce the time between symptom onset and medical intervention. Community workers are also actively reporting suspected cases and helping connect patients with treatment centers. As of Aug. 9, officials recorded 155 infections among healthcare workers and 45 related deaths.
The WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17. Authorities and international partners continue efforts in surveillance, laboratory testing, clinical care, safe burials, and community engagement. Baldé emphasized that the three-month containment outlook hinges directly on securing the needed resources. Since Aug. 9, the weekly update reports an additional 640 confirmed cases and 367 confirmed deaths. Efforts persist despite ongoing insecurity and attacks targeting health services in eastern Congo.