The République démocratique du Congo (RDC) is battling its 17th recorded outbreak of hemorrhagic fever. The crisis is centered in Ituri, a remote province in the northeast where ongoing instability and armed conflict complicate the medical response.
To date, 1,048 individuals have been infected, resulting in 267 deaths across the nation. This represents a fatality rate of approximately 25.5%. While the virus is active in three eastern provinces of the RDC, it has also crossed the border into Ouganda, where 20 cases and two deaths have been confirmed.
“My commitment is absolute”
“I am planning to visit the province of Ituri very soon to personally oversee the situation at the heart of the epidemic. As you can imagine, I am fully dedicated to resolving this crisis,” the Congolese head of state declared during a diplomatic meeting in Kinshasa with Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye.
While a specific itinerary has not been released, the challenge remains immense. This particular outbreak is fueled by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which currently lacks a specific vaccine or approved treatment. Existing vaccines were designed to combat the Zaïre strain, the variant responsible for the most devastating historical outbreaks. Over the last half-century, Ebola has claimed more than 15,000 lives across the African continent.
Patient isolation and contact monitoring
In the Ituri region, the healthcare response—focused primarily on isolating the sick and tracing their contacts—has faced significant delays. Although resources are slowly arriving, many local medical facilities are still struggling with a lack of basic supplies, such as protective gear and chlorine, more than a month after the epidemic was officially recognized.
Treatment centers established in recent weeks by international health organizations and various NGOs are already under heavy pressure. According to health officials, these facilities are currently operating at over 80% capacity.
Despite improvements in testing speed, international aid groups and field workers warn that official statistics likely underrepresent the true impact. Experts believe the epidemic has not yet peaked and could persist for six months to a year. The virus continues to spread primarily through direct contact with infected bodily fluids.