BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization states that Congo’s Ebola outbreak can still be controlled within three months if response teams are provided with sufficient resources. The latest official data reports 5,021 confirmed cases and 2,378 deaths as of Aug. 16. The disease now affects 55 health zones across six provinces, with the case fatality ratio climbing to 47.4%. This makes it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the history of the country. It also ranks as the second-largest Ebola epidemic recorded worldwide.
According to WHO incident manager Thierno Baldé, achieving the three-month containment goal hinges on securing necessary response resources. The organization has currently received approximately $69.3 million of the $115 million needed, which is about 60%. Over the past two weeks, teams have added more than 400 treatment beds. They have also deployed 100 extra epidemiologists and over 500 community health workers for surveillance and contact tracing efforts. The response effort requires vehicles, ambulances, medical supplies, and personnel across an expanding affected region.
Transmission has now reached Bas-Uélé, making it the sixth province affected by the outbreak. As of Aug. 12, Ituri accounted for 85% of confirmed cases and 79% of reported deaths nationwide. Officials have indicated that 70% to 80% of new cases had no known link to existing patients. To identify cases more rapidly and facilitate patient transfer into treatment centers, health teams are intensifying surveillance activities. The first confirmed case in Bas-Uélé traveled from Haut-Uélé before symptoms appeared on Aug. 4.
Expansion of Response Efforts Across Multiple Provinces
The Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare of the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced the outbreak on May 15. Laboratory tests in Kinshasa confirmed the presence of Bundibugyo virus, a less common Ebola species first identified in western Uganda in 2007. Since the virus was first identified in 1976, this marks Congo’s 17th recorded Ebola outbreak. 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 health workers.
Bundibugyo virus disease currently lacks a licensed vaccine or approved specific treatment. Care efforts thus focus on early detection, supportive treatment, infection control, contact tracing, and safe burials. Authorities are also expanding community outreach, especially where patients may initially seek help outside formal health facilities. Response teams have trained local personnel and distributed hygiene supplies to lower exposure risks during transport and body handling. Early supportive care significantly improves survival chances for individuals infected with Bundibugyo virus disease.
Funding Shortfall Persists Despite Expanded Surveillance Activities
While contact monitoring has improved, it remains below public health targets in several affected areas. On Aug. 12, teams tracked 17,460 of 20,740 contacts listed, achieving a follow-up rate of 84.2%. To enhance detection rates and reduce the time between symptom onset and care, health officials have deployed additional field epidemiologists. Community health workers are also being utilized to report suspected cases and link patients to treatment centers. By Aug. 9, there had been 155 infections among health workers and 45 deaths.
The WHO classified the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17. Both national authorities and international partners continue active surveillance, laboratory testing, clinical management, safe burials, and community engagement efforts. Baldé emphasized that the three-month containment plan is directly tied to securing the necessary resources. Since Aug. 9, the weekly count has risen by 640 confirmed cases and 367 confirmed deaths. The response efforts persist despite ongoing insecurity and attacks on health services in eastern Congo.