GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has called for an intensified Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the virus continues to spread across multiple provinces. As of September 1, the latest government data reports 6,250 confirmed cases and 3,039 fatalities. The outbreak has impacted 60 health zones within six provinces. Authorities have also documented 1,439 recoveries, with the case fatality rate at 48.6%.
The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has become Congo’s most severe and extensive on record, ranking as the second-largest Ebola epidemic globally after the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak. Ituri province remains the epicenter of transmission, accounting for approximately 85% of confirmed cases and 88% of all reported deaths, making it the most affected region in the ongoing health crisis.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that health teams have yet to trace every transmission chain. Many recent fatalities involved individuals not listed on known contact lists. Ongoing community deaths and unsafe burial practices continue to hinder efforts to contain the virus. Africa CDC reported that over 60% of deaths during the most recent seven-day period occurred in communities rather than health facilities.
Health agencies boost Ebola containment measures
The World Health Organization has expanded testing, treatment, and field operations in affected areas. WHO has delivered more than 330 tonnes of emergency supplies and deployed over 300 specialists. Currently, health agencies operate 24 laboratories closer to affected communities, a significant increase from the single national reference lab at the start of the response. Daily testing capacity has increased to roughly 3,000 tests, and treatment and isolation beds now exceed 1,300 across 49 facilities.
The Bundibugyo virus currently has no approved vaccine or targeted treatment. Researchers are engaged in therapeutic trials, and two vaccine candidates are in safety testing phases. Health teams continue contact tracing, testing, clinical management, infection prevention, and safe burial practices. Authorities are also scaling up community engagement efforts, recognizing that delays in detection can leave infected individuals outside formal monitoring systems, complicating efforts to identify transmission chains promptly.
Transmission persists despite declining case numbers
Transmission remains active in 51 health zones, even though recent weeks have seen a reduction in case counts. Four zones have not reported new infections for over 42 days and have effectively interrupted transmission. Additionally, five zones have experienced between 21 and 42 days without new cases. Public health officials caution that the recent decline does not yet confirm that the outbreak is under control, but surveillance continues across the affected regions.
Congo announced the outbreak in Ituri province on May 15 after authorities confirmed infections involving the Bundibugyo virus. The epidemic later spread to North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé, in addition to Ituri. Tedros emphasized that the response must expand until health teams can identify and halt every transmission chain. Authorities remain focused on rapid detection, contact follow-up, laboratory diagnosis, safe burials, and ensuring access to treatment in all communities impacted by Ebola.