GENEVA/LONDON, Aug 18 (Reuters) — The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—now the second-deadliest on record—could still be brought under control within three months, provided sufficient resources are secured.
The 2,325 deaths reported as of Aug 18 mark the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history, with 4,945 cases confirmed since the outbreak began. The WHO’s incident manager, Thierno Balde, stated that reversing the spread remains possible if funding gaps are addressed. The agency has raised 60% of the $115 million it requires for the response, but officials warn that delayed detection, armed conflict, and a lack of vaccines for the rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain continue to hinder efforts.
Containment efforts are intensifying, including the addition of 400 new hospital beds in the past two weeks and the deployment of more epidemiologists to trace contacts. However, 70-80% of new cases have no known epidemiological links, indicating uncontrolled transmission in multiple regions. The WHO’s Emergency Committee is meeting on Tuesday to reassess the situation, which was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in July.
Challenges and Diverging Assessments
Health officials remain divided on the outbreak’s trajectory. While Balde expressed cautious optimism, Dr. Wessam Mankoula, head of emergency preparedness at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), cautioned that the outbreak is far from under control. Mankoula noted that 70-80% of cases lack clear transmission chains, suggesting undetected spread. He added: “It will not be over in a few weeks or even months.”
Community Engagement and Operational Hurdles
The Doctors Without Borders (MSF) emergency coordinator, Trish Newport, highlighted limited community engagement as a critical obstacle. She stated that many affected communities lack awareness of Ebola symptoms and response protocols, slowing containment. MSF has called for greater local involvement in outbreak management to improve trust and compliance.
Scale and Speed of the Outbreak
The current outbreak has surpassed the DRC’s 2018-2020 Ebola crisis, which recorded 2,299 deaths over two years. The 2,325 fatalities in this outbreak were reached in just three months, making it the fastest-growing Ebola epidemic ever recorded. The WHO has warned that the outbreak could surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola crisis, which killed more than 11,000 people.
Ongoing Response Efforts
Despite the challenges, health workers have isolated over 1,000 patients and maintained 730 in treatment or isolation. The WHO and partners are scaling up surveillance, vaccination campaigns, and safe burial practices. However, security concerns—including attacks on health facilities—have disrupted operations in conflict-affected areas like North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
The WHO’s timeline hinges on securing full funding, improving early detection, and addressing logistical gaps. Balde emphasized the urgency: “People are working day and night, but the situation remains difficult.”