GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has called for an expanded Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the virus continues to spread across multiple regions. According to the latest government data, Congo had confirmed 6,250 cases and recorded 3,039 deaths as of Sept. 1. The outbreak affects 60 health zones within six provinces. Authorities also report 1,439 recoveries, with a case fatality rate of 48.6%.
The Bundibugyo Ebola epidemic has become Congo’s most significant and deadly outbreak to date. It is also the second-largest Ebola epidemic globally, following the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa. Ituri province remains the primary hub of transmission, accounting for approximately 85% of confirmed cases and 88% of reported deaths, making it the most severely impacted region during this public health crisis.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that health teams have yet to trace every transmission chain. Several recent fatalities involved individuals not listed on known contact lists. Continued community deaths and unsafe burial practices further hinder efforts to contain the virus. Africa CDC reported that over 60% of fatalities in the past week occurred within communities rather than healthcare facilities.
Health agencies boost Ebola containment measures
The World Health Organization has increased laboratory testing, treatment capacity, and field activities across affected zones. More than 330 tonnes of emergency supplies have been shipped by WHO, and over 300 experts have been deployed. Now, 24 laboratories operate closer to impacted communities, compared to just one national reference lab earlier in the response. Daily testing capacity has grown to around 3,000 tests, while treatment and isolation beds now total over 1,300 across 49 facilities.
Currently, the Bundibugyo virus has no approved vaccine or targeted therapy. Researchers are performing therapeutic studies, and two vaccine candidates designed for the virus are undergoing safety assessments. Contact tracing, testing, clinical care, infection prevention, and safe burial practices remain ongoing. Authorities are also strengthening community engagement efforts because delays in detection can allow infected individuals to remain outside official monitoring systems, complicating efforts to trace transmission pathways quickly.
Transmission persists even with declining case numbers
Transmission persists in 51 health zones, despite recent decreases in case counts. Four zones have not reported new infections for over 42 days and have effectively halted transmission. An additional five zones have experienced no new cases for between 21 and 42 days. Public health officials caution that the recent decline does not yet confirm the outbreak is under control, and surveillance efforts remain active across the affected regions.
Congo announced the outbreak in Ituri province on May 15 after confirming 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 highlighted that response efforts must intensify until health teams can identify and halt every transmission chain. Authorities continue to prioritize rapid detection, contact follow-up, laboratory diagnosis, safe burials, and treatment access for communities impacted by Ebola.