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WHO Reports Progress in Ebola Response as Outbreak Persists in DR Congo GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – World Health Organization reports that Ebola transmission shows signs of decline in some of the most affected regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The most notable improvements are seen in parts of Ituri province, the primary hotspot of the outbreak. Despite this progress, the epidemic continues to spread in other regions. Official data up to Sept. 13 indicates 7,258 confirmed cases and 3,510 deaths across seven provinces, with the national case fatality rate standing at 48.4%.DR Congo’s Ebola response continues as health teams track changing transmission patterns. (AI-generated image) WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted that recent trends offer encouraging signs following months of rapid transmission. He emphasized, however, that the epidemic still results in deaths and continues to expand, now affecting 62 health zones, reflecting marked differences between impacted provinces. South Kivu has not reported new cases since May, while more patients are recovering nationwide. By Sept. 13, 1,726 recoveries had been officially recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Despite the recent drop in transmission, Ituri remains the outbreak’s primary epicenter, with approximately 300 new cases and 160 deaths reported there during the latest weekly reporting period. These figures accounted for nearly half of the country’s total cases during that time. Conversely, North Kivu has experienced

Legionella DNA was found in a cooling tower at Yankee Stadium during New York City’s probe into a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in the South Bronx. The city confirmed 11 cases by Tuesday night, including one fatality, with three individuals still hospitalized. The New York City Health Department identified 10 cooling towers with positive initial PCR results across ZIP codes 10451 and 10456, which encompass parts of Melrose and Morrisania.

Healthcare workers in protective gear manage patient isolation areas inside treatment facilities. To counteract the virus’s geographic spread, health authorities implemented a decentralized treatment model aimed at establishing care facilities closer to rural, affected communities. Nearly 1,400 treatment beds have been set up across 59 operational centers by response teams. Nonetheless, assessments indicate that an extra 1,600 beds are needed to reach the targeted capacity of 3,000 beds. Achieving this goal will require recruiting and training approximately 5,000 more healthcare professionals to support the current 9,000 staff needed for comprehensive operational coverage. Field expansion efforts continue to face difficulties due to operational costs and resource limitations. On average, daily PPE requirements amount to $25 per healthcare worker entering high-risk isolation zones. Running a standard 50-bed treatment facility costs around $500,000, posing significant financial challenges as global donor funding diminishes. Data from the Emirates News Agency emphasizes that fully operational treatment centers and adequately trained personnel are vital to improving patient survival and halting virus transmission.

Congo’s Ebola response expands as Bundibugyo transmission remains active. This outbreak has become Congo’s most extensive and deadly Ebola event to date and ranks as the second-largest globally, following the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa. Ituri remains at the epicenter of the crisis, responsible for approximately 85% of cases and 88% of deaths. Tedros highlighted that many fatalities involve individuals not listed as known contacts, indicating health teams are still missing certain transmission chains. Obstacles such as community deaths and unsafe burials continue to hinder efforts to control the outbreak. According to Africa CDC, over 60% of deaths recorded during the most recent seven-day period occurred in communities. Delays in detecting infections and getting patients into treatment centers have also been reported by health officials. The latest government data from Congo indicates 1,439 recoveries and a case fatality rate of 48.6%, underscoring the severe impact of the Bundibugyo strain. Active Transmission Continues in Eastern Congo Despite signs of a decline in recent weeks, transmission remains ongoing in 51 health zones. Authorities have documented that four zones have not reported new cases for over 42 days, effectively interrupting transmission. An additional five zones have experienced no new cases for between 21 and 42 days. However, public health officials warn that these declines are too recent to confirm the outbreak is under control on a national scale. The World Health Organization has intensified its testing, treatment,

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have launched a focused Ebola vaccination initiative in Kisangani, the administrative center of Tshopo Province, aiming to halt the country’s most severe outbreak on record. Frontline healthcare workers, emergency response personnel, and individuals who have had direct contact with confirmed cases are being prioritized during the initial phase of the deployment. Health Minister Roger Kamba confirmed that the government initiated the immunization campaign utilizing doses of the Ervebo vaccine to safeguard frontline personnel operating across impacted eastern provinces.

The European Commission has committed to acquiring €2.1 million worth of PCR tests to support the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. These open-platform diagnostics will aid in infection detection and bolster laboratory capabilities during this emergency, with procurement arrangements made with assistance from the European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Distribution of supplies is scheduled to start in August, supplementing existing diagnostic resources as health authorities confront increasing case counts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

DR Congo expands its Ebola response as Bundibugyo cases spread across six provinces. Following a request from the government, the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision approved releasing the doses from the global Ebola stockpile. WHO indicated that 20,000 doses will support a Phase 3 clinical trial targeting Bundibugyo virus disease. The remaining 50,000 doses are designated for frontline and healthcare workers as per current vaccination guidelines. The allocation was welcomed by WHO and Africa CDC, with officials announcing it on Aug. 20. Ervebo has authorization for use in Ebola virus outbreaks, formerly known as Zaire ebolavirus, but it is not specifically approved for Bundibugyo virus disease. Laboratory and animal studies suggest possible cross-protection; however, human efficacy remains unconfirmed. The upcoming clinical trial will evaluate the vaccine’s effectiveness during the ongoing outbreak and contribute to public health decision-making. WHO emphasizes that recipients should be informed about known risks, potential benefits, and existing limitations.

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. Congo Ebola response expands as health teams work to curb Bundibugyo transmission. 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

DRC malaria response targets a disease that caused more than 26 million cases in 2025. The National Malaria Control Programme presented these data amid efforts by health officials to intensify malaria response activities in Ituri. Dembo highlighted that control initiatives must persist while authorities reinforce strategies that have already demonstrated effectiveness. He also urged the adoption of approaches tailored to the specific conditions in each health zone. The campaign in Ituri focuses on large-scale distribution of antimalarial medications, part of broader malaria prevention and treatment strategies. The initiative is part of a coordinated national effort aimed at decreasing infection rates, severe cases, and malaria-related deaths. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 282 million malaria cases and 610,000 deaths occurred globally in 2024. Africa bore approximately 95% of both cases and fatalities that year, with the continent reporting about 265 million cases and 579,000 deaths. The Democratic Republic of the Congo contributed to 11.7% of malaria deaths across Africa. WHO data show that children under five account for roughly three quarters of malaria deaths across the continent. These statistics position the DRC among the countries with the highest malaria burden worldwide. The malaria burden remains predominantly an African issue Malaria primarily spreads through bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes and remains both preventable and treatable. Its early symptoms often include fever, chills, and headaches. If untreated, severe cases can lead to breathing difficulties, seizures, extreme exhaustion, and loss of

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that the current epidemic’s trajectory threatens to surpass the historic 2014–2016 West African outbreak, which resulted in more than 11,000 fatalities. Field medical teams administer supportive care treatments to patients in emergency clinics. Epidemiological records maintained by the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo show that the current outbreak has caused over 2,100 deaths out of more than 4,500 confirmed cases. Although civil authorities formally declared the epidemic on May 15, genomic sequencing later revealed that silent community transmission had actually initiated in February. Public health analysts emphasize that the death toll was reached almost three times faster than in previous major regional outbreaks, highlighting severe operational difficulties in tracking active chains of infection across remote territory.