By Bunmi Yekini
The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the World Health Organization (WHO) have reaffirmed their partnership to contain an Ebola outbreak in the country’s east, as cases spread across Ituri and into neighbouring provinces, officials said.
The renewed commitment follows a joint high-level visit to Bunia led by Health Minister Dr Samuel Roger Kamba, Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya Katembwe, and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Health authorities say the country is responding to an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus, with infections and deaths reported in several health zones across Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.
Officials described the situation as “rapidly evolving,” with surveillance, laboratory testing and treatment efforts being scaled up to interrupt transmission.
The government is leading the national response, working with provincial authorities and international partners including WHO and other United Nations agencies to coordinate operations and mobilise resources.
“Together, DRC authorities, WHO and partners are working to strengthen coordination, mobilise additional resources, and ensure that life-saving interventions reach affected communities quickly and equitably,” the joint statement said.
Central to the response, officials said, is community engagement, with authorities intensifying dialogue with local leaders, women’s groups, youth representatives, religious organisations and the private sector.
They said trust and local participation would be key to controlling the outbreak.
While the Bundibugyo strain poses additional challenges, including the absence of a licensed vaccine or specific treatment, health authorities stressed that established public health measures remain effective in reducing transmission.
These include early case detection and isolation, contact tracing, safe and dignified burials, and stronger infection prevention and control in health facilities.
The Ministry of Health, WHO and partners are also working to accelerate research efforts, including potential trials of candidate vaccines and treatments.
Officials urged communities to maintain preventive behaviours such as regular handwashing, seeking early medical care, and relying on verified information to curb misinformation.
The DRC, which has experience containing multiple Ebola outbreaks in the past, said its institutional knowledge and coordination capacity remain a key asset in the current response.
“Strong political leadership at the highest level of the state and renewed international solidarity provides a firm foundation for bringing the current outbreak under control,” officials said.
Authorities also stressed that the emergency response must not disrupt essential health services, adding that investments in laboratories, surveillance systems and health workers would strengthen long-term health system resilience in the country.