GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – As of September 1, the World Health Organization reported a total of 6,250 confirmed Ebola cases and 3,039 fatalities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The ongoing outbreak has impacted 60 health zones within six provinces. Authorities have also documented 1,439 recoveries, with the case fatality rate reaching 48.6%.
The Bundibugyo outbreak has become Congo’s most significant and deadliest Ebola epidemic to date. Globally, it ranks as the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record, following the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa. Ituri province continues to be the primary epicenter, accounting for approximately 85% of confirmed cases and 88% of reported deaths, thus representing the most severely affected region during this health crisis.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that health teams have yet to trace every transmission chain. Many recent fatalities involved individuals not listed on known contact tracking records. The persistence of community deaths and unsafe burial practices further hampers efforts to contain the virus. According to Africa CDC, over 60% of fatalities during the latest seven-day span occurred within communities rather than healthcare facilities.
Health agencies ramp up Ebola containment efforts
In response, the World Health Organization has increased laboratory testing, treatment capabilities, and on-the-ground operations in affected regions. Over 330 tonnes of emergency supplies have been dispatched, and more than 300 experts have been deployed. The number of laboratories closer to affected communities has risen from a single national reference lab to 24, enabling a daily testing capacity of roughly 3,000. Meanwhile, treatment and isolation beds now total over 1,300 across 49 facilities.
Currently, there is no approved vaccine or targeted treatment for the Bundibugyo virus. Researchers are conducting therapeutic trials, while two vaccine candidates are in safety testing phases. Efforts continue in contact tracing, testing, clinical management, infection prevention, and safe burials. Authorities are also emphasizing community engagement, as delayed detection can leave infected individuals outside formal monitoring systems, complicating the identification of transmission pathways.
Transmission persists despite recent decreases in case numbers
Active transmission persists in 51 health zones, though recent weeks have seen a reduction in new cases. Four zones have reported no infections for over 42 days and have halted transmission, while five others have gone between 21 and 42 days without new cases. Officials caution that the recent decline does not yet indicate the outbreak is under control; surveillance continues across the affected areas.
The outbreak was officially declared in Ituri province on May 15 after authorities confirmed infections involving the Bundibugyo virus. Subsequently, the epidemic spread to North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé, in addition to Ituri. Tedros emphasized that the response must expand until every transmission chain is identified and halted. Efforts remain focused on rapid case detection, contact follow-up, laboratory diagnosis, safe burials, and ensuring treatment access within the affected communities.