BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has reported that 80% of recent Ebola cases in eastern Congo stem from unidentified transmission pathways. A significant number of patients were not listed on contact tracing lists prior to testing confirming their infections. This gap hampers early isolation efforts and delays treatment for symptomatic individuals. Response teams often identify new clusters only after patients seek care at clinics or succumb in their communities. The current outbreak involves the less common Bundibugyo virus species.
As of July 13, Congo has documented 2,011 confirmed cases and 754 fatalities. The outbreak remains concentrated in Ituri province, which has reported 1,808 cases and 631 deaths. North Kivu has recorded 182 cases with 106 deaths. Cases have also been identified in South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo. Authorities have placed 753 patients in isolation and reported 366 recoveries. Monitoring efforts have covered approximately 67% of contacts in the most affected regions.
Tracing contacts is crucial for health workers to identify individuals exposed to the virus before it spreads further. Typically, each contact is observed for 21 days following the last known exposure. According to WHO, 92.3% of the 430 deaths investigated by July 5 occurred outside hospitals or before admission, reducing chances for timely testing and isolation. Ebola transmits 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 across five provinces in Congo. Ituri has reported cases in 26 health zones, while North Kivu has 11. Haut-Uele has identified 14 cases with 13 deaths, and Tshopo has four cases with three deaths. South Kivu has recorded three cases and one death. The extensive geographic spread has increased strain on laboratories, treatment facilities, and mobile surveillance teams.
In Uganda, 20 cases and two deaths had been confirmed by July 14. Seventeen patients had recovered, and the latest confirmed case was recorded on June 21. Fifteen infections were linked to travel to Congo, while five were associated with local transmission events. Ugandan health authorities found no evidence of community-wide spread and continued monitoring of travelers and aid workers leaving affected areas during the outbreak.
Expansion of testing and treatment efforts
There is no licensed vaccine or approved treatment specifically targeting Bundibugyo virus. Medical teams are providing supportive care including fluids, oxygen, and electrolyte management. On July 2, WHO added the first molecular diagnostic test for this virus to its Emergency Use Listing. Currently, ten laboratories support testing across the affected areas, with a combined capacity exceeding 2,000 tests daily. Researchers have also initiated a clinical trial involving remdesivir and the antibody therapy MBP134.
The government of Congo, WHO, and Africa CDC continue joint efforts in surveillance, testing, treatment, safe burials, and public engagement. Challenges such as insecurity, displacement, frequent movement in mining regions, and strikes among health workers have impeded some aspects of the response. WHO has received approximately 40% of its $115 million funding appeal. Authorities remain focused on accelerating case detection, as most new infections occur outside known transmission chains.