The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is grappling with its 17th Ebola outbreak declared just one hundred days ago. The Bundibugyo virus has spread rapidly, fueled by decades of armed conflict and displacement, affecting over a million people. As of August 21 the country has reported 5,290 confirmed cases and 2,516 deaths across 56 health zones making it the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have declared public health emergencies, highlighting the urgency of the situation. The outbreak is moving faster than any previous one, with insecurity and displacement complicating containment efforts. However, progress has been made in some areas, thanks to the dedication of health workers and the involvement of local communities.
Frontline heroes in the fight against Ebola
At the heart of the response are the health workerslaboratory teamscontact tracerscommunity health workers and burial teams who show up every day to combat the virus. They work under extraordinary pressure, often in insecure and hard-to-reach areas. Their efforts are crucial in identifying the virus, caring for patients, and building trust within communities.
As of August 20158 health workers have been infected, and 45 have died. Their safety is central to stopping transmission, and their service must be met with action, including protective equipment, training, medical supplies, and psychosocial support. The response has made progress under the leadership of national authorities, with expanded surveillance, deployed laboratories, and reinforced infection prevention measures.
Community engagement and cross-border coordination
Communities hold the knowledge required to stop Ebola. They can identify illness early, alert health teams, and support families through access to treatment and safe burials. The response moves faster when communities lead alongside national authorities and health workers. In Uganda locally acquired transmission of the virus has been interrupted, and several health zones in northern Ituri and South Kivu provinces in the DRC have also seen transmission interrupted.
To turn the corner, surveillance teams are being expanded and equipped to detect cases early and rapidly identify contacts. Safe clinical care and infection prevention measures are being increased wherever people seek treatment. More risk communication and community engagement teams are being deployed to empower communities to participate in the response and address barriers to care. Special efforts are being made to reach vulnerable populations and communities in insecure and hard-to-reach areas.
Cross-border coordination remains strong, with people moving within and between countries for trade, work, study, and seeking care. Borders must serve as bridges for coordinated public health action, with a priority on coordinated surveillance, rapid information-sharing, and prepared health services along movement routes.
Vaccine research and the path forward
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is funding research projects to assess whether existing vaccines against the Zaire ebolavirus could offer protection against the Bundibugyo ebolavirus. These studies will analyze blood samples from thousands of people who have already been vaccinated, with first results expected within months. The research aims to characterize vaccine-induced immune responses and assess cross-reactivity of antibody responses against the Bundibugyo virus.
The critical data from these serology studies will help establish and standardize tests for antibodies against the Bundibugyo virus and define the dynamics and durability of these responses. Data from these studies will also aid interpretation of immune responses in clinical trials, help assess whether Bundibugyo-specific antibodies are associated with protection, and inform future vaccination strategies.
The first 100 days have made the priorities clear: find every case, follow every contact, break every chain of transmission, protect every health and frontline worker, save lives, and ensure that no community is left behind. WHO and Africa CDC will continue working with the DRC, neighboring countries, communities, and partners to deliver on these priorities. Success depends on sustained national leadership, continental solidarity, and international support. Together, we must rise to this challenge.
