Ebola outbreak in drc: africa cdc and who step up coordinated response

The Ebola virus epidemic continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with 1,203 confirmed cases and 321 deaths since it was declared in mid-May, according to the latest update from the health ministry on Friday.

Health authorities report that 148 patients have recovered, while 419 remain hospitalised or in isolation. Caused by the Bundibugyo strain, the outbreak now affects 34 health zones across Ituri province—the main epicentre—as well as North Kivu and South Kivu.

The ministry highlights several obstacles hindering the response, including community refusal to undergo post-mortem testing, limited treatment capacity in Ituri, and contact tracing rates still below the 95% target. Officials urge the population to report suspected cases, follow hygiene measures, and avoid handling deceased bodies.

International partners remain engaged. Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), confirmed that the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), along with DRC and French authorities, are pursuing a coordinated response to contain the epidemic.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that armed conflict severely complicates health operations by restricting access to affected areas, scattering contacts, and fuelling community distrust.

In this context, Africa CDC announced the launch, in partnership with the WHO Regional Office for Africa and the Ugandan government, of a Joint Continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST). Based at Makerere University in Uganda, this platform aims to strengthen intervention coordination, technical assistance, and cross-border cooperation for the DRC, Uganda, and other at-risk neighbouring countries.

This initiative reflects the continent’s determination to build its capacity for health emergency preparedness and response through coordinated, African-led action.