The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is grappling with its 17th Ebola outbreak, which has now become the deadliest ever recorded. The government declared the outbreak 100 days ago after the Bundibugyo virus was confirmed, and approximately 2,500 deaths have since been reported.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have been working with national authorities and partners to expand surveillance, deploy laboratories, and support treatment centres. Despite progress, cases are still being detected outside known contact lists, indicating ongoing chains of transmission.
Uganda has successfully interrupted transmission and declared an end to its outbreak of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, demonstrating that the disease can be stopped through decisive national leadership and close community cooperation. In the DRC, community representatives have emphasised the need for their involvement in the response, highlighting their knowledge of local communities and how information moves.
The response faces challenges including conflict, displacement, and fragile access to care, with health workers operating under extraordinary pressure in insecure areas. As of 18 August, 163 health workers in the DRC have been infected and 47 have died, while Uganda recorded four health worker infections. Adequate financing and cross-border coordination are also identified as crucial for stopping the spread of the virus.