BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – World Health Organization states that the Ebola outbreak in Congo could be contained within three months if adequate resources are provided to response teams. The latest official data reports 5,021 confirmed cases and 2,378 deaths as of Aug. 16. The cases are now present in 55 health zones across six provinces, with the case fatality ratio reaching 47.4%. This makes it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the nation’s history and the second-largest Ebola epidemic worldwide.
Thierno Baldé, the incident manager for WHO, emphasized that the three-month containment goal hinges on securing the necessary response resources. To date, approximately $69.3 million of the $115 million required has been raised, representing about 60%. Over the past two weeks, response teams have added more than 400 treatment beds and deployed 100 additional epidemiologists along with over 500 community health workers to enhance surveillance and contact tracing efforts. The response effort depends on vehicles, ambulances, medical supplies, and personnel across a growing affected region.
Transmission has now reached Bas-Uélé, marking it as the sixth affected province. As of Aug. 12, Ituri accounts for 85% of confirmed cases and 79% of reported deaths nationally. Officials report that 70% to 80% of new cases lack any known link to existing patients. To speed up case identification and patient transfer into treatment facilities, health teams are expanding surveillance efforts. The first confirmed case in Bas-Uélé traveled from Haut-Uélé before symptoms emerged on Aug. 4.
Response efforts grow across impacted regions
Since the outbreak was declared by the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare on May 15, laboratory testing in Kinshasa confirmed the presence of Bundibugyo virus, a less common Ebola strain first identified in western Uganda in 2007. Congo has experienced 17 Ebola outbreaks since the virus was first discovered in 1976, with Uganda reporting 20 confirmed cases and two deaths so far, and no new cases since June 21. The cases in Uganda include imported infections and secondary transmissions among contacts and health workers.
Bundibugyo virus currently lacks an approved vaccine or specific treatment. Care primarily involves early detection, supportive treatments, infection control, contact tracing, and safe burials. Authorities are also expanding community outreach programs to reach patients who may first seek help outside formal health facilities. Response teams have trained local workers and distributed hygiene supplies to minimize exposure during transport and body handling. Providing early supportive care can significantly improve survival chances for individuals infected with Bundibugyo virus disease.
Surveillance efforts continue amid funding shortfalls
While contact monitoring has improved, it still falls short of public health targets in several affected zones. On Aug. 12, teams tracked 17,460 of 20,740 contacts listed, achieving a follow-up rate of 84.2%. To improve detection and reduce the time between symptom onset and treatment, health officials have deployed additional field epidemiologists. Community health workers are also being utilized to identify suspected cases and link patients with treatment centers. As of Aug. 9, there have been 155 infections among health workers and 45 deaths.
The WHO declared the outbreak 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 noted that the three-month containment plan is directly linked to securing the necessary resources. Since Aug. 9, the weekly update reports 640 additional confirmed cases and 367 more confirmed deaths. The response continues despite challenges posed by insecurity and attacks on health services in eastern Congo.