BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has reported that 80% of recent Ebola infections in eastern Congo stem from unidentified transmission chains. Many patients did not appear on contact tracing lists prior to testing confirming their infection. This gap hampers early isolation efforts and delays treatment for symptomatic individuals. Health teams often identify new clusters only after patients arrive at clinics or succumb within their communities. The ongoing outbreak involves the less common Bundibugyo virus strain.
As of July 13, Congo had documented 2,011 confirmed cases and 754 fatalities. The province of Ituri remains the epicenter with 1,808 cases and 631 deaths. North Kivu reported 182 cases with 106 deaths. Additional cases have been recorded in South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo. Authorities have placed 753 patients in isolation and noted 366 recoveries. Response teams are tracking approximately 67% of identified contacts in the most affected regions.
Contact tracing is vital for health workers to identify exposed individuals before they transmit the virus further. Usually, each contact is monitored for 21 days following the last known exposure. WHO indicated that 92.3% of 430 investigated deaths up to July 5 occurred outside healthcare facilities or before patients were admitted, reducing chances for prompt testing and isolation. Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected blood or bodily fluids, and contaminated objects can also act as vectors.
Five provinces report confirmed cases
The outbreak has affected 45 health zones across five provinces in Congo. In Ituri, cases have been detected in 26 zones, while North Kivu reports infections in 11 zones. Haut-Uele has 14 cases with 13 deaths, and Tshopo reports four cases and three deaths. South Kivu has three cases and one death. The widespread distribution has increased demands 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, with the most recent case confirmed on June 21. Fifteen of the infections were linked to travel from Congo, while five cases resulted from local transmission events. Ugandan health authorities reported no evidence of community-wide spread. They also monitored travelers and aid workers leaving affected regions during the outbreak.
Enhanced testing and medical response efforts
There is currently no licensed vaccine or specific approved treatment for Bundibugyo virus. Medical teams provide supportive care including fluids, oxygen, and electrolyte replacement. On July 2, WHO added the first molecular diagnostic test for this virus to its Emergency Use Listing. A total of ten laboratories now support testing across the affected areas, with a combined capacity of over 2,000 tests per day. Researchers have also initiated a clinical trial involving remdesivir and the antibody therapy MBP134.
The governments of Congo, WHO, and Africa CDC are coordinating efforts in surveillance, testing, treatment, safe burials, and community outreach. Challenges such as insecurity, displacement, and frequent movement through mining zones have hampered access to some communities. Strikes by health workers have also interrupted parts of the response. WHO has received roughly 40% of its $115 million funding appeal. Authorities continue to emphasize the importance of rapid case detection, as most new infections occur outside known transmission chains.