WHO: Ebola Risk ‘Very High’ in DRC, Response Intensifies
The World Health Organization (WHO) elevated the national risk assessment for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to ‘very high’ on Friday, while maintaining the global risk level as ‘low’.
Although 82 cases and seven deaths have been confirmed in the DRC to date, the WHO suggests the epidemic’s true scale may be considerably larger, with approximately 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths reported.
The outbreak is unfolding amidst escalating conflict, mass displacement, and a deep-seated distrust of external authorities, fueled by rumors. In Ituri province, a hospital was reportedly set ablaze by angry relatives after authorities refused to release the body of a family member who had died, due to contamination concerns.
UN System Response
- The WHO assessed the Ebola risk in the DRC as ‘very high’; regional risk is ‘high’, and global risk remains ‘low’.
- WHO has deployed 22 international staff, and UNICEF has dispatched an emergency response team to Bunia.
- Health teams are supporting contact tracing, treatment centers, risk communication, and community engagement.
- The UN aid chief has allocated up to $60 million for the response in the DRC and neighboring countries, with WHO releasing $3.9 million.
- WHO and Africa CDC have established a continental incident management support team.
- MONUSCO airlifted approximately 30 tons of emergency supplies, including medication, tents, and protective equipment.
- The UN peacekeeping mission is also establishing an air bridge and deploying vehicles to strengthen logistics.
- WHO and partners are preparing clinical trials for experimental Ebola treatments and potential vaccines targeting the Bundibugyo strain.
- Red Cross volunteers are conducting door-to-door awareness campaigns and promoting safe and dignified burial practices.
Two Cases in Uganda
Two cases linked to travel from the DRC, one resulting in death, have been confirmed in Uganda. Two American citizens were transferred to Europe for treatment or monitoring.
The outbreak stems from the Bundibugyo Ebola strain, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. This strain has only been recorded in two previous outbreaks: in Uganda in 2007 and in the DRC in 2012.
Conflict Complicates Response
The epidemic is spreading across Ituri and North Kivu provinces, areas with a long history of armed violence and humanitarian crises. The UN emergency coordinator, Tedros, stated that approximately four million people in these provinces require urgent humanitarian assistance, with two million displaced and ten million facing acute hunger.
Intensified conflict in recent months has displaced over 100,000 people and hindered health operations.
$60 Million Emergency Allocation
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher announced an allocation of up to $60 million from the organization’s Central Emergency Response Fund to support the response in the DRC and neighboring countries. Fletcher stated, “These are challenging operational environments for life-saving work. We are facing conflict and high population movement.” He emphasized the importance of securing access for frontline response teams, particularly in areas controlled by armed groups.
Ebola ‘Fabrication’ Accusations
Aid organizations have warned that misinformation and distrust could undermine efforts to control the epidemic. Gabriela Arenas from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) noted that many communities carry the trauma from previous Ebola outbreaks. “They remember the fear. They remember the rumors spreading through villages. They remember neighbors disappearing into treatment centers,” she said. While many residents seek information and treatment, others still believe “Ebola is a fabrication.” The IFRC reported that Red Cross volunteers are working in affected areas to share information door-to-door and support safe burial ceremonies. Arenas added, “Trust and community acceptance can make the difference between control and wider spread during an Ebola outbreak.”
Women Most at Risk
The social dynamics driving the outbreak may disproportionately affect women, as seen in previous Ebola epidemics. Sofia Calltorp, Head of Humanitarian Action at UN Women, stated, “Women are more likely to be infected in the first place.” During the 2018-2019 DRC Ebola epidemic, about two-thirds of reported cases were women and girls. Calltorp explained, “This is due to the progression of Ebola transmission through social realities. The virus spreads through caregiving, household chores, frontline health work, and burial practices.” She added that pregnant women face particular risks, and quarantines could exacerbate gender-based violence.
Control Efforts Intensify
WHO reported deploying 22 international staff to the field and releasing $3.9 million from its emergency fund. A continental incident management team is being established with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. WHO and its partners are accelerating work on experimental vaccines and treatments for the Bundibugyo strain. Tedros said WHO’s research advisory group has recommended prioritizing clinical trials of two monoclonal antibodies, as well as testing the antiviral drug obeldesivir in high-risk contacts. He also stressed the importance of rebuilding trust. “Building trust in affected communities is critical for a successful response and is one of our highest priorities,” he stated.
