WHO Races to Contain Rare Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is racing to contain an outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with its chief acknowledging the response is trying to catch up to a virus that had a “big head-start.”

The outbreak, declared on May 15 in the conflict-ridden Ituri province, has so far resulted in 344 confirmed cases and 60 deaths in the DRC, with over 1,100 suspected cases reported. The virus has also spread to neighbouring Uganda, where 15 cases and one death have been confirmed. One case involved a Congolese resident who had travelled to the United Arab Emirates, prompting international contact tracing efforts.

Response efforts are hampered by significant challenges, including regional insecurity, limited testing capacity, and mistrust among some local populations. WHO officials stated that only 45% of known contacts of Ebola cases have been followed up, far short of the 90% target needed to get ahead of the outbreak. The risk is currently assessed as “very high” at the national level and “high” at the regional level.

Complicating the situation is the lack of any approved vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain. In response, a major international effort is underway to accelerate vaccine development. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has announced nearly $60 million in funding for institutions including Moderna and the University of Oxford. Moderna is advancing an experimental vaccine, while Oxford’s candidate uses the same technology as its COVID-19 vaccine.

To bolster the on-the-ground response, the WHO is decentralising laboratory testing across five hotspots to increase capacity to 1,000 tests per day. The agency has also urged countries to lift blanket travel restrictions, warning they are disrupting supply chains and hindering containment efforts.