WHO Calls Congo Ebola Crisis Largest Bundibugyo Wave Yet

Kinshasa, July 5 – The World Health Organization has described the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo as the most extensive Bundibugyo‑type event recorded to date. The health ministry disclosed 1,528 confirmed infections and 492 deaths linked to the virus.

A government briefing indicated that 239 patients have completed treatment and been discharged, while 628 confirmed cases are still isolated or admitted to treatment facilities. An extra 185 suspected cases are being monitored for further confirmation.

Weekly monitoring reveals that cases continue to climb, with weeks 25 and 26 each surpassing 300 new infections, underscoring persistent community transmission.

Several operational hurdles are hampering the response: local opposition to corpse sampling for post‑mortem analysis, inadequate capacity at Ebola treatment units—most notably in North Kivu—ineffective contact‑tracing mechanisms, delayed laboratory results, and shortages of medical and protective equipment.

WHO regional director Mohamed Yakoub Janabi warned that the epidemic remains acute, noting a spread into the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu. He stressed that this is the largest Bundibugyo outbreak the country has faced.

Pierre Akilimali, a WHO specialist on the ground, highlighted that insecurity and the activity of armed groups in affected districts obstruct surveillance and tracing, especially in Ituri's mining zones where constant movement of workers increases transmission risk.

A clinical trial has been launched in the DRC to evaluate experimental treatments for the Bundibugyo virus strain, though no certified vaccine or proven therapy exists at present.

Across the border, Uganda has logged 20 confirmed Ebola cases, the majority of which are linked to travelers. Both nations have signed a memorandum of understanding to coordinate surveillance, share data, and bolster screening and treatment capabilities in border regions.