DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Reaches Two New Health Zones Amid Escalating Challenges, WHO Warns

The Ebola virus, specifically caused by the Bundibugyo strain, has spread to two new health zones in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported.

New infections were identified in Bulu within the South Ubangi governorate, near the border with the Central African Republic, and in Dungu located in Haut-Uele province close to the border with South Sudan, according to a statement from the WHO on Friday. These recent cases expand the affected area to 63 health zones spanning seven provinces as local and international authorities struggle to contain the spreading outbreak.

Data from the WHO as of September 23 indicates that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has registered 7,890 confirmed cases alongside 3,799 deaths, representing a mortality rate of nearly 50 percent among those infected.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted that ongoing conflict and widespread population displacement continue to hinder health workers attempting to reach vulnerable populations and track potential virus exposures. "It’s very difficult to see Ebola in isolation because even our response to Ebola is affected by the conflict, because there is displacement and there is an access problem to some areas," Tedros explained. He further noted that the Bundibugyo strain presents significant treatment challenges due to a lack of approved vaccines, though the WHO is working to accelerate clinical trials for prospective vaccines and treatments.

Meanwhile, public health teams searching for individuals exposed to the Bundibugyo strain are falling short of operational targets. Dr Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), stated that the more than 7,000 confirmed cases should theoretically generate approximately 420,000 tracked contacts. "But currently, we have just 30,000 people in the contact list," Kaseya noted. "When the outbreak is at community level, we cannot talk about control."

Ituri province in the northeastern DRC remains the primary epicentre of the current epidemic, documenting 6,032 confirmed cases since the outbreak began in May, which includes 868 newly confirmed cases reported over the previous 21 days. North Kivu stands as the second most severely impacted province, registering 1,480 new cases, with 567 identified in the last 21 days alone. A WHO report issued on Sunday indicates that North Kivu currently accounts for roughly one-third of all newly confirmed cases and fatalities.

Medical statistics reveal that nearly 60 percent of individuals diagnosed in North Kivu have died, a rate noticeably higher than the national average of 48 percent. Local medical staff report that sick individuals are actively avoiding healthcare facilities until their conditions become critical. "Patients think that if they arrive at the hospital, they will be immediately sent to the treatment centre to die," said Dr Michel Paluku Mukuloli, a physician at a hospital located in North Kivu’s Butembo.

While North Kivu previously served as the epicentre for three earlier Ebola crises—including the 2018–2020 epidemic that previously stood as the DRC's largest and deadliest—those historic outbreaks were triggered by the Zaire strain rather than the Bundibugyo strain. Experts note that significantly less scientific data is available regarding the Bundibugyo strain, while responders emphasize that early-stage symptoms often mirror more common illnesses like malaria and typhoid fever, complicating timely diagnoses.