BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization reports that 80% of recent Ebola cases in eastern Congo are due to unidentified transmission pathways. Many patients were not listed on contact tracing lists before testing confirmed their infection, which hampers early isolation efforts and delays treatment for symptomatic individuals. Response teams often identify new clusters only after patients arrive at clinics or succumb within their communities. The ongoing outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a less prevalent strain of Ebola.
As of July 13, Congo had documented 2,011 confirmed cases and 754 fatalities. Ituri province remains the epicenter with 1,808 cases and 631 deaths. North Kivu has reported 182 cases and 106 deaths. Other affected regions include South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo. Authorities have placed 753 individuals in isolation and recorded 366 recoveries. Approximately 67% of identified contacts in the most impacted provinces are under surveillance by response teams.
Contact tracing is crucial for identifying exposed individuals before they transmit the virus further. Typically, contacts are monitored for 21 days following the last exposure. WHO indicated that 92.3% of 430 investigated deaths up to July 5 occurred outside healthcare facilities or prior to hospital admission, limiting opportunities for prompt testing and isolation. Ebola spreads primarily through direct contact with infected blood or bodily fluids, and contaminated objects can also serve as transmission vectors.
Five provinces report confirmed Ebola infections
The outbreak has affected 45 health zones within five provinces of Congo. In Ituri, cases have been confirmed in 26 zones, while North Kivu reports infections in 11. Haut-Uele has 14 cases with 13 fatalities. Tshopo records four cases and three deaths, and South Kivu reports three cases with one death. The widespread distribution has increased demand on laboratories, treatment facilities, and mobile surveillance units.
In Uganda, 20 cases and two deaths had been confirmed by July 14. Seventeen patients recovered, and the latest case was identified on June 21. Of these, 15 cases were linked to travel from Congo, while five involved local transmission events, with officials noting no documented community spread. Monitoring efforts included tracking travelers and aid workers who left affected zones during the outbreak.
Expansion of testing and clinical interventions
There is currently no licensed vaccine or approved treatment specifically for Bundibugyo virus. Healthcare teams provide supportive care such as fluids, oxygen, and electrolyte replacement. On July 2, WHO added the first molecular diagnostic test for the virus to its Emergency Use Listing. Currently, ten laboratories conduct testing across the affected area, with a combined capacity of over 2,000 tests daily. Researchers have also launched a clinical trial involving remdesivir and the antibody treatment MBP134.
The government of Congo, WHO, and Africa CDC are working together to coordinate surveillance, diagnostics, treatment, safe burials, and community outreach efforts. Challenges such as insecurity, displacement, frequent movement in mining regions, and health worker strikes have impacted response activities. WHO has received about 40% of its $115 million funding appeal. Efforts remain focused on accelerating case detection, as most new infections occur outside established transmission chains.