Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have called for urgent, community-led action to contain the worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

In a statement issued on Thursday, the agencies urged stronger early case detection, comprehensive contact tracing, improved treatment access, frontline health worker support, and faster delivery of essential resources to affected communities nationwide.

The appeal followed a joint high-level mission to Uganda and the DRC on Aug. 4 and 5 to assess ongoing Ebola response efforts and identify operational priorities for strengthened regional collaboration.

The mission was led by WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya, and WHO Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Janabi, underscoring high-level commitment to coordinated outbreak control efforts.

Delegates visited Kampala, Bunia, and Kinshasa, where they met government officials, health workers, community leaders, and response partners to evaluate interventions and strengthen collaboration against the rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak.

The delegation reviewed the outbreak’s progress, identified critical operational gaps, and presented concerns raised by affected communities directly to national authorities to strengthen response measures and improve coordination across health systems.

“Uganda’s successful containment demonstrated that rapid detection, contact tracing and strong community engagement can stop Ebola transmission.

“Uganda declared its outbreak on July 28 after recording 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, with all contacts completing follow-up,” the statement said, highlighting effective outbreak containment through coordinated public health measures.

Africa CDC and WHO commended Uganda’s leadership in containing Ebola while urging neighbouring countries to strengthen preparedness and surveillance against potential cross-border transmission risks across the Great Lakes region.

In Bunia, the outbreak’s epicentre, the delegation assessed ongoing response activities and visited the Rwangole Ebola Treatment Centre to evaluate patient care, operational capacity, and frontline response challenges facing health workers.

Officials said ending the outbreak depended on communities receiving trusted information and participating actively in surveillance, case reporting, and response activities, stressing that public confidence was essential to successful Ebola containment efforts.

According to the statement, communities were urged to recognise Ebola symptoms early, report suspected cases promptly, and seek treatment without fear to improve survival rates and reduce further disease transmission.

The agencies identified religious, traditional, women’s, and youth leaders as critical partners for building public trust, countering misinformation, and encouraging stronger community participation in Ebola surveillance and response initiatives nationwide.

The delegation lauded health workers and affected communities for sustaining response efforts despite insecurity, population displacement, misinformation, and limited healthcare resources that continued to complicate effective outbreak containment across affected provinces.

“Response teams reported delayed case detection, treatment shortages, resistance to interventions and inadequate frontline support.

“Ituri Province accounts for nearly 90 per cent of confirmed Ebola cases, with Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu among the hardest-hit health zones.

“As of Aug. 4, the DRC recorded 3,973 confirmed Ebola cases, 1,801 deaths and 776 recoveries across 51 health zones.

“Authorities also reported 99 new confirmed cases and 52 deaths within the latest 24-hour reporting period.

“Contact follow-up reached 75 per cent, below the 95 per cent target needed to rapidly interrupt Ebola transmission.

“About 674 patients remained under care, while treatment centres in North Kivu operated at 139 per cent capacity,” the statement said.

Africa CDC and WHO called for expanded treatment centres, strengthened laboratory services, increased ambulance capacity, and safe, dignified burial operations to improve emergency response and reduce further Ebola transmission nationwide.

The agencies also urged timely payment, adequate protection, and sufficient equipment for frontline health workers, stressing that safeguarding response personnel remained essential for sustaining effective Ebola outbreak control operations nationwide.

“During meetings in Kinshasa, officials emphasised stronger government coordination, sustained financing and improved access to affected communities.

“The agencies reaffirmed support for a nationally coordinated response involving government, partners, health workers and local communities.

“Africa CDC and WHO pledged continued technical support while advising countries to strengthen surveillance instead of imposing unnecessary travel or trade restrictions,” the statement said. 

(NAN)