Published on: 2026-08-10
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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August 10, 2026 Healthcare
As a result of the large-scale Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), more than 1,900 people have died, with the majority of those infected never reaching treatment centers. Sixty to seventy percent of Ebola deaths in the DRC occur in communities that do not receive medical assistance, and this issue is now the focus of the World Health Organization (WHO).
“The Bundibugyo virus still outpaces our efforts,” admitted WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Mohamed Djanabi, speaking in Bunyakiri, the epicenter of the outbreak in eastern DRC. There is still no approved vaccine against Bundibugyo.
Three months after the start of the epidemic, WHO, together with the Congolese authorities and other partners, intends to urgently strengthen response measures.
What the numbers say
Doctor Janabi spent three days in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province. This was his fifth visit to the DRC since the epidemic was officially declared on May 15.
Together with Steve Ahuka, one of the specialists leading the local response measures, Janabi visited several medical centers and met with local residents to understand why the death toll remains so high.
Discussions with representatives of the local transport association revealed shortcomings in the patient transport system. According to WHO data, half of the deaths among transported patients are related to the inability to provide assistance during transport.
“We asked ourselves why people die in Bunia, and we understood the following,” said Dr. Janabi. “There are no such [Ebola treatment] services in medical centers outside of Bunia. As a result, everyone goes to Bunia. Unfortunately, they arrive too late.”
Distance as a mortality factor
The concentration of medical resources in one city turns distance into one of the factors of mortality.
Since the necessary facilities are absent near the patients’ place of residence, people have to travel a long way to get help, often already in extremely serious condition.
The journey itself can also contribute to the spread of the epidemic. Patients transported to Bunia are not always immediately taken to an Ebola treatment center; some are first sent to their local relatives. If a person dies, their body may be returned to their home village, which increases the risk of new infections.
The WHO aims to break this chain by bringing medical services closer to local communities, better informing the population and transport services, and ensuring the transportation of patients to specialized centers.
“The true success story”
The city of Arua, also located in Ituri province, demonstrates what can be achieved by following the new strategy. No new cases have been reported there for two weeks now, which the WHO calls a “genuine success story.”
According to Dr. Djanabi, after one case of infection was identified, specialists established 159 contacts, including 121 people suspected of having the disease. However, the response measures were not limited to monitoring these individuals and were extended to the surrounding communities.
In addition, new medical facilities are being established in the region and information campaigns are being conducted so that patients no longer have to travel to Buni for treatment. The goal is twofold: to start treatment earlier and to prevent the provincial capital from becoming a concentration center for both patients and the risks of further transmission of the infection.
In the spotlight – local communities
“Now we must protect Bunyia,” said Dr. Djanabi, adding that the WHO intends to jointly with the health authorities of the DR Congo consider the possibility of creating new centers outside the city so that people can receive assistance where they live.
The WHO also plans to additionally deploy 400 beds for Ebola patients in the province and another 100 beds to provide other medical services to patients. However, the organization emphasizes the need to expand the response measures beyond the healthcare system. For example, market vendors could organize handwashing themselves. According to Djanabi, the fight against Ebola must be a collective effort.
“I do not expect the central government to do everything that is necessary,” he noted. “I do not expect our agencies to do everything required. But if we raise awareness among market traders, I think they will be able to set aside one or two buckets for hand washing.”
Thus, three months after the start of the epidemic, the WHO expects not only an expansion of the scale of the fight but also a change in the very approach: less concentration of efforts in Bunia and more early response near infection transmission sites. Dr. Djanabi believes that such an approach could yield results within the next two to three months.
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