Source: APO
One hundred days have passed since the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak, which has now become the country’s fastest growing. Transmission is outpacing control efforts, requiring a substantial scale-up across all areas of response to halt the spread of the virus.
A daily average of around 90 confirmed cases has been recorded in the first three months, markedly higher than the rate observed in the same period during the 2014–2016 West Africa and the 2018–2020 Democratic Republic of the Congo outbreaks. The outbreak has now expanded to a sixth province, with Ituri remaining the epicentre, accounting for about 85% of cases and 79% of deaths.
“We can bring the Ebola outbreak under control but only through scaled-up action in affected communities that is led by national, provincial and local leaders and the affected communities, sustained by needed resources and backed by committed collaboration by all partners in DRC and beyond,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “WHO and partners will continue to support the DRC government, communities and neighbouring countries in delivering the response needed to end the outbreak.”
Mortality is high both in communities and among patients in treatment facilities. Community deaths—those occurring outside Ebola treatment centres—accounted for around 60% of the 260 weekly fatalities recorded over the past six weeks. This highlights the persistent challenges in early detection, referral and access to treatment, while mortality among patients reaching treatment facilities may reflect late admission and severe stage of the disease.
The response needs to be rapidly ramped up and adapted to local transmission patterns and operational gaps. All response partners need to reinforce operations in areas with high virus transmission and community deaths, as well as in high-risk areas and in areas reporting new cases. However, the response faces many challenges such as insecurity and recurrent conflict, population displacement, attacks on health facilities, community reluctance and difficult access. Scaling up and adapting the response requires intensified action and resource intense mobilization, stronger disease surveillance, preparedness and coordination across provinces, along the Congo River and national borders.
“This outbreak has reached a defining moment. The progress made over the past three months shows that stronger action delivers results, but it also reminds us that incremental gains will not be enough. We now need to significantly step up the response: moving faster to detect cases, reaching communities sooner and strengthening operations where they are needed most. The choices we make now will determine how quickly we can bring this outbreak under control, protect and save lives,” said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
Despite the challenges, important outbreak response efforts have been made over the past three months. Laboratory capacity has expanded from one testing site to 19 laboratories capable of processing more than 3000 samples a day. Treatment capacity has increased from fewer than 10 beds to more than 1300, while over 900 health facilities have received infection prevention and control support. Community engagement activities have reached more than 2.5 million people and contact follow-up has improved from 9% during the first week of the outbreak to 84% as of 18 August.
Scientific efforts are also advancing, including clinical trials of potential treatments, evaluation of candidate vaccines and deployment of the first emergency-listed molecular diagnostic test for Bundibugyo virus disease. In countries neighbouring the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond, preparedness is being reinforced through closer cross-border collaboration, harmonized disease surveillance, information sharing and joint planning to detect and contain imported cases.
National authorities, supported by WHO and partners, are reinforcing disease surveillance and contact tracing, expanding laboratory testing and clinical care, strengthening infection prevention and control, and working with communities to encourage early reporting, care-seeking and safe and dignified burials. WHO has deployed over 260 experts, delivered more than 330 tonnes of essential medical and operational supplies.
Bringing the outbreak under control will require sustained national leadership, strong community engagement, secure access to affected communities, regional and global solidarity and continued investment to rapidly strengthen response operations where they are needed most. A halt in conflict is also critical to enable frontline teams to reach affected communities. The coming months will be critical to building on the gains made over the first 100 days, closing remaining operational gaps and accelerating efforts to contain the outbreak.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Democratic Republic of Congo.