Ebola Outbreak in Congo Reaches 750 Cases and 177 Deaths

The World Health Organization reported 750 cases and 177 deaths from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as of Friday. The current outbreak is the country’s 17th and is caused by the Bundibugyo strain. Standard tests initially returned negative results because they detect the more common Zaire strain.

Samples must now be sent to a laboratory in Kinshasa, delaying confirmation by several days, according to Alan Gonzalez, director of operations for Médecins Sans Frontières.

Rose Tchwenko, Congo country director for Mercy Corps, said one early case involved a health care worker whose family provided care at home due to beliefs about traditional practices or witchcraft. The patient received a traditional burial, and the wife became infected.

Tchwenko stated that suspicion of humanitarian organizations and government actors remains in some areas. On Thursday, protesters in Rwampara set fire to hospital tents after being denied access to a body for burial.

No vaccine or approved therapeutics exist for the Bundibugyo strain. Ky Luu, president and chief operations officer of International Medical Corps, said responders lack the ring-vaccination option used in prior Zaire-strain outbreaks. Isolation facilities in Bunia are full, prompting the conversion of a surgical center into an improvised unit.

Contact tracing, patient isolation, and infection control remain the primary response measures.

Funding and Security Challenges The U.S.

State Department committed an initial $23 million in foreign assistance this week. International Medical Corps has deployed four rapid response teams and plans to construct additional facilities. Greg Ramm, Save the Children’s country director in Congo, said humanitarian funding has declined compared with two years ago, resulting in fewer health centers and community health workers.

The outbreak’s epicenter lies in Ituri Province, where approximately 100 armed groups operate. Luu noted that the combination of remote terrain, high population density, and ongoing conflict complicates surveillance and supply delivery.