Kinshasa: The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has entered an increasingly dangerous phase, with health authorities reporting a sharp rise in infections and deaths as efforts to control the virus struggle to keep pace with its spread.
The country has now recorded 4,945 confirmed Ebola cases and 2,325 deaths, according to the latest health data. The figures have made the current outbreak the deadliest Ebola crisis in Congo’s history, surpassing the 2,299 deaths recorded during the country’s previous worst outbreak between 2018 and 2020.
The latest outbreak was declared on May 15 and is being caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a less common type of Ebola. The disease has spread rapidly through communities in northeastern Congo, with Ituri province remaining the main centre of transmission. Health officials have also confirmed infections in other provinces, raising concerns that the outbreak could become increasingly difficult to contain.
The speed of the outbreak has alarmed health experts. During the latest week covered by government figures, 579 new cases and 304 deaths were recorded. The number of new infections has risen much faster than during previous Ebola outbreaks in the country.
One of the biggest challenges is that many infected people are not being identified through existing contact tracing efforts. Health teams are finding new patients who were not previously known to have been exposed to confirmed cases. This indicates that the virus is continuing to spread through hidden transmission chains.
The situation has been made worse by delays in diagnosis and treatment. Many people are reaching health facilities only after becoming seriously ill. A large number of deaths are also occurring outside treatment centres, making it harder for health officials to identify the people who may have been exposed.
The Bundibugyo virus presents another major challenge because there is currently no approved vaccine specifically designed for this strain and no established treatment specifically developed for it. Scientists are now testing experimental vaccines and treatments in an effort to find tools that could help control the outbreak.
Researchers are also studying the genetic characteristics of the virus. Early findings suggest that the strain responsible for the current outbreak is a new variant of the Bundibugyo virus. Scientists believe the outbreak may have started after the virus passed from an animal to a person before spreading between people.
Health workers are facing difficult conditions as they try to respond to the growing crisis. Medical facilities are under pressure, while some health workers have gone for months without receiving their salaries. Shortages of supplies and protective equipment have also affected the response in some areas.
Armed conflict in eastern Congo is creating another serious obstacle. People continue to move because of insecurity, while some communities are difficult for health teams to reach. Movement between towns and villages also makes it harder to identify people who may have been exposed to the virus.
Public trust remains equally important. Health authorities are working to counter misinformation and encourage people to seek medical attention when symptoms appear. Fear of treatment centres and concerns about restrictions on traditional burial practices have contributed to resistance in some communities.
The international response is being strengthened as the outbreak grows. The United Nations and health agencies are providing additional funding, medical supplies and technical support. The United States has also increased its financial commitment to the response, while international researchers continue to work on vaccines and treatments.
Neighbouring Uganda has provided an important example of what a rapid response can achieve. Uganda experienced an outbreak of the same virus earlier this year, including cases linked to travel from Congo. The country managed to stop local transmission and was declared free of the outbreak in July after completing the required period without a new locally transmitted case.
However, the continuing crisis in Congo means neighbouring countries remain on alert. Cross border movement for trade, work and family reasons could allow the virus to reach new areas if surveillance weakens.
Health officials now face a race against time. Finding infected people quickly, isolating patients, protecting health workers and gaining the trust of communities will be essential to slowing the outbreak.
The current crisis has already become the second deadliest Ebola outbreak recorded anywhere in the world, behind only the West African epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people between 2014 and 2016. Health experts warn that without a stronger and faster response, Congo’s outbreak could continue to grow.
For communities in Ituri and other affected provinces, the immediate priority is simple but difficult. People need access to safe medical care, accurate information and protection from further transmission. The coming weeks are expected to be critical as Congo and its international partners attempt to bring the rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak under control.