Ebola outbreak in DRC intensifies as WHO chief arrives in Kinshasa

The World Health Organization has raised urgent concerns over the rapidly worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), describing the spread as « unprecedented in its pace ». Since the outbreak began, authorities have recorded 3,874 confirmed cases, resulting in 1,751 fatalities. This marks one of the deadliest health crises in the country, with the previous epidemic between 2018 and 2020 claiming nearly 2,300 lives out of 3,500 reported cases.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, arrived in Kinshasa, the DRC’s capital, on Tuesday. According to an official briefing, he was scheduled to meet with President Félix Tshisekedi the following day to discuss escalating response efforts. This visit follows his late May trip to Ituri, a northeastern province and the current epicenter of the outbreak, where nearly 90% of cases have been identified.

Unprecedented spread challenges healthcare systems

The ongoing epidemic stems from the Bundibugyo variant, for which no approved vaccine or treatment currently exists. Health officials warn that the outbreak is spreading across regions with weak state presence and severely under-resourced medical facilities, further complicating containment efforts.

« The situation continues to deteriorate at a rate that far exceeds our response capabilities, » a WHO spokesperson stated during a press briefing in Geneva. The organization has urgently called for increased financial and logistical support to bolster treatment centers, field investigation teams, and safe burial practices—critical components in halting transmission.

Global efforts accelerate vaccine and treatment research

Ebola, transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, has claimed over 15,000 lives across Africa over the past five decades. The current outbreak has now spread to five provinces in the DRC, including Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, and Tshopo.

In a promising development, Canadian regulators have granted approval for Moderna to initiate clinical trials for a new vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain. The candidate, identified by the WHO as « the most promising option to date », known as rVSV Bundibugyo, is also being advanced by Hilleman Laboratories in Singapore. Meanwhile, Oxford University in the United Kingdom has launched trials for an alternative vaccine using the same technology as AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 shot, after administering the first dose to a volunteer in late July.

Researchers are also fast-tracking potential treatments, including antiviral drugs remdesivir and obeldesivir, alongside a monoclonal antibody called MBP134, to combat the deadly variant.

Delayed declaration raises concerns

The DRC announced its 17th Ebola epidemic on May 15, weeks after the initial cases were detected. The delay in declaring the outbreak has raised alarms about the nation’s preparedness and the ability to curb the virus’s spread in a country with a population exceeding 100 million.