The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is still advancing faster than the response effort can contain it, with the World Health Organization (WHO) warning that frontline health workers are operating under increasingly dangerous and complex conditions.
The current outbreak, driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, has now infected more than 1,000 people in the DRC and at least 20 in neighbouring Uganda, marking the highest number of cases recorded in the first month of any Ebola outbreak to date.
Health experts say the scale of the crisis reflects a delayed detection, with evidence suggesting the virus had been circulating for months before authorities officially declared the outbreak on May 15.
‘Outbreak continuing to outpace the response’ — WHO
Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged both progress and ongoing setbacks in containment efforts.
“Despite the good progress we have made, we still face major challenges, and the outbreak is continuing to outpace the response,” he said.
The warning underscores the difficulty of mounting a rapid containment operation in a region affected by insecurity, displacement, and limited infrastructure.
Health workers face threats and insecurity in affected areas
WHO emergency director Abdirahman Mahamud said frontline response teams are working under hazardous conditions, including direct threats to their safety.
He said health workers have encountered “abduction threats, crimes and being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” adding that there have been seven documented incidents in which response personnel were targeted.
The security situation has complicated efforts to reach affected communities, conduct surveillance, and carry out vaccination and treatment activities where available.
Community mistrust and cultural tensions complicate response
Beyond security risks, health officials say mistrust between local communities and external responders continues to hinder containment efforts.
In several affected areas, residents have expressed frustration with public health restrictions, particularly rules that prevent traditional burial practices. Such measures are necessary to reduce transmission risk, but they have been met with resistance in communities where burial rites are deeply rooted in cultural and religious traditions.
Public health teams say rebuilding trust remains a critical component of the response strategy, alongside medical interventions.
Late detection contributed to rapid spread
The outbreak’s scale has also been linked to delayed identification. According to WHO assessments, the virus had likely been circulating for an extended period before being formally declared, allowing it to spread undetected across communities.
That delay is believed to have contributed to the unusually high number of cases recorded early in the outbreak, as well as its cross-border spread into Uganda.
Testing capacity expanded but still uneven
Despite the challenges, health authorities say there has been notable progress in diagnostic capacity within the DRC.
Testing capabilities have increased dramatically from just eight tests per day at the beginning of the outbreak to around 2,000 tests daily, according to WHO figures.
Maria Van Kerkhove of the WHO said expanding access to testing remains a top priority in controlling transmission.
“A big priority of the response is to scale up decentralisation of the testing,” she said.
Health experts argue that bringing testing closer to affected communities is essential for faster diagnosis, quicker isolation of cases, and more effective interruption of transmission chains.
Response efforts under pressure
While international support has increased, the outbreak continues to strain health systems already weakened by conflict and displacement. Response teams face logistical difficulties reaching remote or insecure areas, while ongoing population movement complicates contact tracing efforts.
Despite these obstacles, authorities insist that expanded testing, improved coordination, and community engagement remain central to bringing the outbreak under control.
For now, however, health officials caution that the situation remains highly dynamic, with the virus still spreading faster than containment efforts in several areas.