Published on: 2026-06-09
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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Early diagnosis and contact tracing play a key role in the fight against the spread of Ebola in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This was stated on Tuesday by the World Health Organization (WHO).
A rapidly spreading outbreak was causedrare and deadly dangerous strain Bundibugyo. According to the director of the WHO Emergency Response Department for the Health Sector, Abdirahman Ma’amud, as of June 8, 550 confirmed cases of the disease had been registered in DR Congo, including 101 fatal cases.
“The good news is that 19 patients have already recovered. Early detection of the disease and timely treatment save lives,” he emphasized.
Masamud explained that the increase in the number of confirmed cases is primarily associated with the expansion of testing capacity. To accelerate diagnostics, additional laboratories are being opened, including a fully equipped facility in the city of Mongbalu, Ituri province.
In Uganda, according to WHO data, 19 confirmed cases of Ebola have been registered, including two lethal cases, as well as one death, likely caused by the disease. So far, no signs of the spread of the infection within local communities in the country have been detected.
Contact tracing
As of June 6, in the province of DR Congo Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, 5,040 people who had contact with infected individuals were under observation. Thanks to the establishment of contact tracking work, medical professionals managed to place 62 percent of such people under observation.
According to Masamud, specialists expect to bring this indicator to 90–95 percent in the coming weeks. He noted that progress is achieved thanks to a gradualstrengthening trust from the populationand close interaction with local communities.
A WHO representative emphasized the important role of local medical workers who help identify patients in the early stages of illness and refer them to medical institutions.
“There is currently a well-functioning system in place that unites epidemiological surveillance, contact tracking, patient treatment, and laboratory diagnostics,” he noted, adding that an effective data exchange has been established between all system links.
Difficulties in remote area
Together with this, serious problems arise in hard-to-reach areas where reliable transport and communication infrastructure is lacking. In some cases, the delivery of samples for analysis can take up to 10 hours.
“The province of Ituri is comparable in size to France,” noted Ma Amud. If in Bunia test results can be obtained within one or two hours, then in more remote areas the waiting time can stretch up to a day.
As an example, he cited the city of Arua near the border with Uganda, from where samples are now taken for analysis within 10 hours. According to a WHO representative, by Friday a laboratory will start working there, which will significantly speed up the testing process.
As of today, the organization has opened field laboratories in five affected areas to conduct testing as close to the infection hotspots as possible. With the support of the country’s government efforts, the organization sent over 100 specialists to the DRC, delivered 40 tons of equipment and medical supplies, and helped open Ebola treatment centers.
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