Experts warn the virus is outpacing containment efforts, as nearly 80% of new cases in the Ituri epicenter remain untraced, signaling significant undetected community transmission.
The current Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached 37 health zones across Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, according to an external update released by ReliefWeb. While the government has also confirmed two cases in Kisangani, Tshopo Province, the Ituri region remains the primary focus of the crisis. Ituri accounts for 91 per cent of all confirmed cases and approximately 86 per cent of the total deaths recorded since the outbreak began in mid-May. As of 8 July, the country has reported 295 recoveries.
Escalating Transmission and Response Challenges
The speed of the current outbreak has drawn comparisons to previous major health crises on the continent. Epidemiologists report that the virus is spreading more rapidly than in the 2014–2016 West Africa outbreak or the 2018 North Kivu event. Chikwe Ihekweazu, MBBS, MPH, executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, stated that modeling and test-positivity rates suggest the total number of cases could be two to four times higher than the current confirmed count.
Wessam Mankoula, MBBS, MPH, an epidemiologist with the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The response is further complicated by severe operational hurdles. Health officials report that 80% of new patients in Ituri are not on existing contact lists, suggesting that the Bundibugyo virus is circulating largely undetected. Contributing factors include persistent insecurity, displacement caused by armed conflict, and community mistrust. Additionally, responders in the hardest-hit province recently launched a strike over working conditions and unpaid benefits. The DRC has experienced 16 outbreaks prior to the current emergency.
Impact on Healthcare Workers and Vulnerable Populations
The human toll on those fighting the outbreak is significant. To date, 112 healthcare workers in the DRC have been infected with Ebola, and 32 have died. We’re still losing our healthcare workers in DRC,
Mankoula noted during a recent press briefing. Beyond the clinical workforce, the crisis threatens over 2 million forcibly displaced people living in high-risk areas of the eastern DRC, including 320,000 refugees and asylum-seekers.
While no Ebola cases have been confirmed among the refugee population, 19 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the Kpangba, Kigonze, and Bembeyi sites in Ituri have tested positive. Humanitarian agencies, including the UNHCR, the World Health Organization (WHO), other United Nations agencies, and local communities, are working to strengthen prevention and response efforts to ensure that refugees, asylum-seekers, IDPs, and host communities can access information, surveillance, and essential services.
Clinical Treatment Trials and Regional Containment
Because there are currently no licensed vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo virus, medical efforts are focused on experimental interventions. Last week, authorities began enrolling patients in a clinical trial for two antiviral candidates: the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral remdesivir. While the trial is currently limited to a single site in the DRC, Africa CDC officials stated the plan is to eventually scale the study to 10 locations. It could take several months before trial investigators determine the efficacy of these treatments.
The situation in neighboring Uganda remains distinct from the scale of the crisis in the DRC. As of 9 July, Uganda has reported 20 confirmed cases, two deaths, and 17 recoveries. Only one patient remains under active care in the country. Readers seeking specific health guidance or concerned about the outbreak should consult with qualified medical professionals or official public health agencies, as this information is for reporting purposes only.
Find more reporting in our Health section.
Related reading