Kinshasa: The World Health Organization has raised the national risk level of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo to “very high,” warning that the virus is spreading quickly and that many infections may still be going undetected.
Health officials say the outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, is becoming increasingly difficult to control as cases appear in new areas and fear spreads among local communities. The latest figures released by the WHO show 82 confirmed infections and seven confirmed deaths in Congo, although authorities believe the real number of cases could be far higher.
Investigators are currently examining nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths in different provinces. WHO officials said the outbreak may have been spreading silently for almost two months before it was officially detected, giving the virus time to move through communities without proper monitoring or treatment.
The outbreak is centered in Ituri province in eastern Congo, a region already struggling with armed violence, displacement and weak healthcare systems. WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organization is deeply worried about both the speed and the scale of the outbreak.
Health experts say the official figures may represent only a small part of the true situation on the ground. Limited laboratory capacity, insecurity in remote areas and fear among local residents have slowed efforts to identify infected people and trace contacts.
Concerns have also grown over the spread of the virus beyond Congo’s borders. Uganda has already confirmed two Ebola cases connected to travel from Congo, including one death reported in Kampala. The cross border transmission was one of the reasons why the WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern earlier this month.
New infections are also being reported far from the original outbreak area. Authorities this week confirmed a case in South Kivu province, hundreds of kilometers away from Ituri. The patient reportedly died after traveling from Kisangani, raising fears that infected people may be carrying the virus to other regions before symptoms become severe.
The growing crisis has led to stronger public health restrictions. Local authorities in Ituri have banned funeral wakes, suspended football matches and restricted large gatherings in an attempt to slow the spread of the disease. Neighboring countries are also tightening border checks and increasing health screenings for travelers arriving from Congo.
Despite the worsening outbreak, the WHO has advised countries not to close borders completely, saying that travel restrictions could disrupt emergency aid and make it harder to track cases.
Health workers on the ground are also facing resistance from some communities. In one town in eastern Congo, angry residents attacked a hospital and burned medical tents after disputing the reported cause of death of a suspected Ebola patient. Aid organizations say fear, misinformation and mistrust of authorities are making response efforts more difficult.
International support for the crisis is now increasing. The United Nations has released emergency funding worth 60 million dollars to help contain the outbreak and strengthen healthcare services. WHO scientists are also studying the possible emergency use of an experimental antiviral drug called Obeldesivir, while researchers continue efforts to develop vaccines for the Bundibugyo strain.
Unlike other Ebola strains, there is currently no approved vaccine specifically designed for the Bundibugyo variant. Experts say that challenge makes rapid detection, isolation of patients, safe burials and community cooperation even more important.
Health officials continue to urge people in affected areas to report symptoms early and follow public health guidance as efforts intensify to prevent the outbreak from spreading further across Central Africa.