WHO Joins Forces with Congolese Government to Accelerate Control of Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak in Ituri–Kivu

The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have issued a joint statement reaffirming their cooperation to protect public health amid an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which is affecting several areas of the country.

The statement followed a joint mission to Bunia, Ituri Province, led by Dr. Samuel Roger Kamba, DRC Minister of Health; Mr. Patrick Muyaya Katembwe, Minister of Communication and Media; and a visit by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization.

According to the DRC Ministry of Health, the outbreak situation is evolving rapidly, with cases and deaths reported in several health zones across Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces. With support from WHO and health partners, the DRC Government is intensifying surveillance, laboratory testing, and patient care in an effort to interrupt transmission as quickly as possible.

The DRC Government emphasized that it is leading a comprehensive national response, working closely with provincial authorities in Ituri and neighboring provinces. Meanwhile, WHO, the United Nations system, and health and humanitarian partners have reaffirmed their full support for these efforts, particularly in coordination, resource mobilization, and ensuring that life-saving interventions reach affected communities quickly and equitably.

A central element of the response is the role of local communities, which are seen as key to controlling the outbreak. The success of response measures will depend on trust, engagement, and local leadership. National and provincial authorities are therefore expanding dialogue with community leaders, women’s groups, youth representatives, religious leaders, and the private sector to better understand local concerns and jointly develop solutions that are culturally appropriate and effective.

Although the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola presents additional challenges, including the absence of a licensed vaccine or specific treatment, WHO stated that proven public health measures remain essential in slowing transmission and improving patients’ chances of recovery. At the same time, the DRC Ministry of Health, WHO, and partners are working to rapidly launch randomized controlled trials for candidate vaccines and treatments.

Key challenges that require continued action include early detection and isolation of cases, contact tracing, safe and dignified burials, infection prevention and control in health facilities, and sustained community awareness.

The DRC Government and WHO also urged communities in affected areas to continue adopting protective measures, including regular hand hygiene, seeking care early at health facilities when symptoms appear, and sharing accurate information to reduce the risk of misinformation and misunderstanding about the disease.

Both parties noted that the DRC has extensive experience in responding to Ebola, having successfully contained multiple previous outbreaks. This experience, combined with strong political leadership at the highest level and renewed international solidarity, provides an important foundation for bringing the current outbreak under control.

In addition, the DRC and WHO stressed that the outbreak response must not come at the expense of primary health care and other essential services. They added that investments in laboratories, health workers, surveillance systems, and basic health services will strengthen the long-term resilience of the health system for the people of Ituri and the DRC as a whole.

The statement also expressed appreciation to international partners for their support of response operations and called for sustained cooperation and solidarity. In particular, it emphasized the importance of keeping borders open and ensuring that entry control measures do not obstruct the urgent flow of medical supplies and health personnel.

The DRC Government, WHO, Africa CDC, and partners confirmed that they will continue to strengthen coordination, mobilize additional resources, and rapidly deliver life-saving interventions to affected communities in a fair and timely manner, with the goal of bringing the Ebola outbreak under control as soon as possible.

 

Source : World Health Organization (WHO)