GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – World Health Organization has urged significantly broadening the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted that health teams have yet to trace every transmission chain. As of September 1, government data reports 6,250 confirmed cases and 3,039 fatalities in Congo. The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak now impacts 60 health zones spanning six provinces.
This epidemic represents Congo’s largest and deadliest Ebola outbreak ever recorded and ranks as the second-largest globally after the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic. Ituri remains at the core of this crisis, responsible for approximately 85% of cases and 88% of deaths. Tedros noted that many fatalities involve individuals not listed as known contacts, indicating ongoing gaps in identifying transmission links.
Persistent community deaths and unsafe burial practices continue to hinder outbreak control efforts. According to Africa CDC, over 60% of the deaths in the most recent week occurred within communities. Moreover, health officials have reported delays in identifying new infections and in transferring patients to treatment facilities. The latest government figures reveal 1,439 recoveries and a case fatality rate of 48.6%, underscoring the severity of the Bundibugyo strain’s impact.
Active transmission persists throughout eastern Congo
Despite some signs of decline in recent weeks, transmission continues in 51 health zones. Four zones have recorded no new cases for over 42 days and have successfully interrupted transmission, while another five have gone between 21 and 42 days without fresh cases. Nevertheless, public health authorities warn that the reduction is still recent, and the outbreak remains uncontrolled at a national level.
The WHO has intensified efforts by expanding testing, treatment, and field support in affected regions. Over 330 tonnes of emergency supplies have been shipped, and more than 300 experts deployed to assist. Laboratory capacity has grown from a single national reference lab to a network of 24 labs closer to the communities impacted. Daily testing capacity has now reached roughly 3,000 tests, while treatment and isolation beds have increased to over 1,300 across 49 facilities.
Response measures grow as the outbreak endures
This outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no specific treatment or vaccine has yet received approval. Researchers are currently testing therapeutic options, while candidate vaccines targeting the Bundibugyo virus are undergoing safety evaluations. Continuous efforts include surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing, clinical management, and safe burial practices. Community engagement remains vital, as delayed detection and incomplete contact follow-up have hampered efforts to identify infected individuals before further transmission occurs.
Congo officially announced the outbreak in Ituri province on May 15 following confirmation of infections linked to the Bundibugyo strain. Since then, the virus has spread across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé provinces. Tedros emphasized that response efforts must expand until health teams can identify and sever every transmission chain. Authorities continue prioritizing rapid detection, contact follow-up, safe burials, laboratory diagnosis, and treatment access across affected communities.