World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is spreading into additional communities, raising concerns over the country’s ability to contain the disease.
According to the WHO, the outbreak, which was officially declared on May 15, has so far resulted in 676 confirmed infections and 136 deaths. Another 119 suspected cases are currently under investigation, while 32 people have recovered.
Health officials say the virus, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, has primarily affected Ituri Province but has now spread into North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. There are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for this strain.
WHO’s Head of Epidemiology and Analytics for Response, Olivier le Polain, said new infections are being recorded in additional health zones almost every day, indicating that the outbreak is larger than the number of confirmed cases suggests.
He explained that although earlier cases in new locations were linked to travel from known hotspots, authorities are now witnessing local community transmission in these newly affected areas. He also noted that several high-risk locations remain difficult to monitor, leaving significant gaps in surveillance.
The WHO acknowledged improvements in contact tracing, with just over 70 percent of identified contacts now being monitored, compared to much lower levels weeks ago. However, officials stressed that this remains insufficient to effectively halt the spread of the virus.
The agency also expressed concern over the shortage of treatment facilities. With only about 250 isolation beds available across the affected provinces, the current capacity falls well short of what is needed as the outbreak continues to grow. More isolation spaces and medical supplies are urgently required, the WHO said.
Meanwhile, the outbreak has crossed into neighboring Uganda, where authorities have confirmed 19 cases and two deaths. Despite this, the African Union’s health agency has stated that the situation in Uganda is currently under control.