BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization reports that Congo’s Ebola outbreak can still be contained within three months if adequate resources are provided to response teams. The latest official figures show 5,021 confirmed cases and 2,378 deaths as of Aug. 16. Currently, cases are spread across 55 health zones in six provinces, with a case fatality ratio of 47.4%. This makes it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country’s history and the second-largest Ebola epidemic recorded worldwide.
According to WHO incident manager Thierno Baldé, the three-month containment goal hinges on securing the necessary resources. The agency has received approximately $69.3 million out of the $115 million required, which is about 60%. Over the past two weeks, teams have added more than 400 treatment beds and deployed an additional 100 epidemiologists along with over 500 community health workers for surveillance and contact tracing. The response effort depends on the deployment of vehicles, ambulances, medical supplies, and personnel across an expanding affected region.
The outbreak has now reached Bas-Uélé, marking it as the sixth affected province. As of Aug. 12, Ituri accounted for 85% of confirmed cases and 79% of the reported deaths nationwide. Officials have noted that 70% to 80% of new cases have no known link to existing patients. Efforts are underway to broaden surveillance capabilities to identify cases more rapidly and transfer patients into treatment centers. The first confirmed case in Bas-Uélé had traveled from Haut-Uélé before symptoms appeared on Aug. 4.
Response efforts expand throughout affected regions
The Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare of the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced the outbreak on May 15. Laboratory tests conducted in Kinshasa confirmed the presence of Bundibugyo virus, a rarer Ebola strain first identified in western Uganda in 2007. This is Congo’s 17th documented Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in 1976. Uganda has reported 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, with no new cases since June 21. These cases involved imported infections and secondary transmissions among contacts and health personnel.
Bundibugyo virus disease currently lacks a licensed vaccine or specific approved treatment. Consequently, care focuses on early detection, supportive therapy, infection prevention, contact tracing, and safe burials. Officials are also increasing community outreach efforts to reach patients who might seek help outside formal health facilities. Response teams have trained local workers and supplied hygiene materials to minimize exposure during transport and body handling. Early supportive care can significantly improve survival chances for those infected with Bundibugyo virus disease.
Funding shortfall persists despite expanding surveillance
Contact tracing has seen improvements but still falls short of public health targets in several affected areas. By Aug. 12, teams monitored 17,460 of 20,740 contacts listed, achieving a follow-up rate of 84.2%. Additional field epidemiologists have been deployed to increase detection rates and reduce the interval between symptom onset and treatment. Community workers are actively reporting suspected cases and facilitating patient transfers to treatment centers. Up to Aug. 9, officials documented 155 infections among health workers and 45 related deaths.
The WHO classified this outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17. Ongoing efforts by national authorities and international partners include surveillance, laboratory testing, clinical care, safe burials, and community engagement. Baldé emphasized that the three-month containment projection directly depends on securing the necessary resources. Since Aug. 9, the weekly update recorded 640 additional confirmed cases and 367 confirmed deaths. The response efforts continue despite ongoing insecurity and attacks on health services in eastern Congo.