BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization reported that unidentified transmission pathways are responsible for 80% of recent Ebola infections in eastern Congo. Many patients were not listed on contact tracking lists prior to testing confirming their infections. This gap hampers early isolation efforts and causes delays in providing treatment to symptomatic individuals. Response teams often identify new infection clusters only after patients present at clinics or succumb within their communities. The ongoing outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus, a less common strain of Ebola.
As of July 13, Congo had documented 2,011 confirmed cases and 754 fatalities. Ituri province remains the epicenter, with 1,808 cases and 631 deaths. North Kivu reported 182 cases and 106 deaths. Other provinces such as South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo have also reported infections. Authorities have placed 753 patients in isolation and recorded 366 recoveries. Response teams are actively monitoring approximately 67% of identified contacts in the most affected regions.
Contact tracing plays a vital role in identifying individuals exposed to the virus before they can further spread it. Typically, contacts are monitored for 21 days following their last known exposure. WHO indicated 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 prompt testing and isolation. Ebola transmits through direct contact with infected blood or bodily fluids, and contaminated objects can also serve as transmission vectors.
Five provinces report confirmed infections
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 14 cases with 13 fatalities. Tshopo reports four cases and three deaths. South Kivu has three cases and one death. The widespread geographic distribution has intensified demands on laboratories, treatment facilities, and mobile surveillance units.
In Uganda, 20 cases and two deaths had been confirmed by July 14. Seventeen patients recovered, and the latest confirmed case was recorded on June 21. Of these, 15 infections involved travel links to Congo, while five were traced back to local transmission events. Ugandan health authorities found no evidence of community-wide spread and monitored travelers and aid workers who left affected zones during the outbreak.
Expansion of testing and clinical management efforts
Bundibugyo virus currently lacks a licensed vaccine or specific treatment. Medical teams focus on supportive care such as fluids, oxygen, and electrolyte replacement. WHO announced the addition of the first molecular diagnostic test for the virus to its Emergency Use Listing on July 2. Currently, ten laboratories conduct testing across the impacted region, with a combined capacity surpassing 2,000 tests daily. Researchers have also initiated a clinical trial involving remdesivir and the antibody therapy MBP134.
The government of Congo, WHO, and Africa CDC continue to coordinate efforts in surveillance, testing, treatment, safe burials, and community outreach. Challenges such as insecurity, displacement, and frequent movement in mining areas hinder access to some communities. Strikes by health workers have further disrupted response activities. WHO has secured approximately 40% of its $115 million funding appeal. Authorities emphasize the importance of rapid case detection, as the majority of new infections occur outside known transmission chains.