BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization reported that 80% of recent Ebola cases in eastern Congo are linked to unidentified transmission chains. Many 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 only identify new clusters after patients seek medical care or pass away in their communities. The ongoing outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus, a less prevalent form of Ebola.
As of July 13, Congo had documented 2,011 confirmed cases and 754 deaths. The majority of cases, 1,808, and deaths, 631, occurred in Ituri province. North Kivu reported 182 cases with 106 deaths. Additionally, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo have also seen cases. Authorities have placed 753 patients in isolation and noted 366 recoveries. About 67% of identified contacts in the most affected regions are being monitored by response teams.
Effective contact tracing enables health workers to identify exposed individuals before they transmit the virus further. Typically, contacts are monitored for 21 days following their last exposure. WHO stated that 92.3% of 430 investigated deaths up to July 5 occurred outside healthcare facilities or prior to hospital admission. Such deaths limit opportunities for timely testing and isolation. Ebola transmits through direct contact with infected blood or bodily fluids, and contaminated objects can also serve as sources of infection.
Confirmed cases reported in five provinces
The outbreak has affected 45 health zones across five provinces in Congo. In Ituri, 26 zones have reported cases, while North Kivu has 11. Haut-Uele has recorded 14 cases with 13 deaths, and Tshopo has four cases with three deaths. South Kivu reports three cases and one death. The widespread distribution of cases increases the burden on laboratories, treatment centers, and mobile surveillance units.
In Uganda, 20 cases and two deaths had been confirmed by July 14. Seventeen patients recovered, and the most recent case was reported on June 21. Of these, 15 cases were linked to travel from Congo, while five were associated with local transmission. Ugandan authorities found no evidence of community-wide spread, and they monitored travelers and aid workers leaving affected areas during the outbreak.
Expansion of testing and clinical interventions
There is currently no licensed vaccine or approved treatment specifically for Bundibugyo virus. Medical teams provide supportive care such as fluids, oxygen, and electrolyte replacement. On July 2, WHO added the first molecular diagnostic test for the virus to its Emergency Use Listing. Presently, ten laboratories support testing efforts across the affected area, with a combined capacity exceeding 2,000 tests daily. Researchers have also launched a clinical trial involving remdesivir and the antibody therapy MBP134.
The government of Congo, WHO, and Africa CDC are working together to coordinate surveillance, testing, treatment, safe burials, and community outreach activities. Challenges such as insecurity, displacement, and frequent movement in mining regions hinder access to some communities. Additionally, strikes by health workers have disrupted parts of the response. WHO has received approximately 40% of its $115 million funding appeal, with officials emphasizing the importance of faster case detection since most recent infections are occurring outside identified transmission chains.