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 transmit across multiple regions. According to the latest government data, Congo had documented 6,250 confirmed cases and 3,039 deaths as of Sept. 1. The outbreak has impacted 60 health zones within six provinces. So far, 1,439 recoveries have been reported, with a case fatality rate of 48.6%.
The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has become the most extensive and deadliest Ebola epidemic in Congo’s history. It is also the second-largest Ebola outbreak worldwide, after the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa. Ituri province remains the primary transmission hub, accounting for approximately 85% of confirmed cases and 88% of deaths. This makes it the most severely affected region during this public health crisis.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that health teams have yet to trace every transmission chain. A number of recent fatalities involved individuals not listed on known contact tracking records. Ongoing community deaths and unsafe burials continue to hinder efforts to contain the virus. The Africa CDC reported that over 60% of fatalities in the past week occurred in communities rather than healthcare facilities.
Enhanced Ebola intervention efforts underway
In response, the World Health Organization has increased laboratory testing, expanded treatment capacity, and stepped up field activities across affected zones. Over 330 tonnes of emergency supplies have been shipped, and more than 300 experts deployed. Health authorities now operate 24 laboratories closer to affected communities, compared to just one national reference lab earlier in the response. Daily testing capacity has reached approximately 3,000 tests, and treatment facilities with over 1,300 beds are operational in 49 locations.
Currently, there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo virus. Researchers are engaged in therapeutic studies, while two vaccine candidates are undergoing safety trials. Efforts continue with contact tracing, testing, clinical management, infection prevention, and safe burials. Authorities are also prioritizing community engagement to ensure earlier detection, as delayed identification can result in infected individuals remaining outside monitoring systems, complicating transmission tracking.
Transmission persists despite decreased case numbers
Active transmission persists in 51 health zones, although recent weeks have shown a decline in new cases. Four zones have not reported new infections for over 42 days and have interrupted transmission. An additional five zones have experienced no new cases for between 21 and 42 days. Public health officials emphasize that this downward trend does not yet confirm outbreak control at the national level, and surveillance continues across all affected regions.
The outbreak was officially declared in Ituri province on May 15 after authorities confirmed infections involving the Bundibugyo virus. Subsequently, the epidemic expanded into North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé provinces. Tedros stressed that the response efforts need to intensify until all transmission chains are identified and halted. Continued focus remains on rapid detection, contact follow-up, laboratory diagnosis, safe burials, and ensuring treatment access within affected communities.