Kinshasa: Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are facing growing concern as an Ebola outbreak continues to spread across the country's eastern region, with many new infections linked to unknown sources. The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak is becoming more difficult to control because most of the latest cases cannot be connected to previously identified patients.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly 80 percent of newly confirmed Ebola infections are coming from unknown chains of transmission. This means many infected people are not being identified until after they have already spread the virus to others. Health experts say this is one of the biggest challenges in stopping the outbreak and raises the risk of further community transmission.
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a rare form of the disease that has been responsible for only a few outbreaks since it was first identified in Uganda in 2007. Unlike the more common Zaire strain, there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment available for the Bundibugyo strain. This has made the response much more difficult, forcing health workers to rely mainly on rapid testing, patient isolation, contact tracing and supportive medical care.
The outbreak began in eastern Congo and has since spread to several provinces. Health authorities say some infected people have also travelled across the border into neighbouring Uganda, leading to imported cases there. Although Uganda has strengthened screening and surveillance at border crossings, officials remain alert because of the close movement of people between the two countries.
The World Health Organization has also raised concerns that many people are dying at home before reaching health facilities. These deaths often go unreported for several days, allowing the virus to spread among family members and communities before health workers can respond. Officials say this delay makes it much harder to identify contacts and contain new infections.
The latest figures released by international health agencies show that the outbreak has grown to around 1,926 confirmed cases, with more than 700 deaths. However, the World Health Organization believes the actual number of infections could be two to four times higher because many cases are never detected or reported, particularly in remote and conflict affected areas.
Health experts say the response is also being slowed by continuing violence and insecurity in eastern Congo. Armed groups operate in several affected areas, making it dangerous for medical teams to reach communities. In addition, some health workers have protested over unpaid salaries and difficult working conditions, further affecting efforts to provide treatment and carry out contact tracing.
Community mistrust has added another layer of difficulty. Some families remain reluctant to report suspected Ebola cases or allow health workers to conduct investigations. Officials say misinformation and fear continue to discourage some people from seeking medical care, increasing the risk of further spread.
Despite these challenges, international organisations are working to strengthen the response. The World Health Organization, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the Congolese government and humanitarian agencies have expanded laboratory testing, treatment centres and disease surveillance across affected provinces. Border health measures have also been reinforced to reduce the risk of regional spread.
A new clinical trial launched this week has offered some hope in the fight against the outbreak. Researchers, working with Gilead Sciences and several international health organisations, have begun testing an experimental antiviral medicine called obeldesivir. The study aims to determine whether the drug can prevent Ebola infection among people who have recently been exposed to the virus. Around 1,000 high risk contacts are expected to take part in the trial. Researchers are also providing remdesivir under compassionate use for young children and pregnant women who become infected.
The World Health Organization has warned that funding remains a major concern. The agency says it has received only about 40 percent of the money needed for the emergency response and has appealed for additional international support. Without adequate funding, officials fear it will become even more difficult to expand testing, strengthen treatment services and protect frontline health workers.
Public health experts say the coming weeks will be critical. They stress that stronger community cooperation, improved surveillance, sufficient funding and continued international support will be essential to slow the spread of the virus and prevent the outbreak from becoming an even larger regional health emergency.