Ebola outbreak in DRC worsens due to late detection and insecurity

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says late detection, testing problems, insecurity, and lack of trust in communities helped Ebola spread quickly in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Yap Boum II, who leads emergency preparedness and response at Africa CDC, shared this information on Thursday during a webinar about the ongoing Ebola outbreak in DRC.

Mr Boum explained that the outbreak involved the Bundibugyo virus, which is not commonly detected. This is different from the Zaire strain usually linked to most Ebola outbreaks in DRC.

He noted that the available diagnostic test kits in eastern DRC could not initially detect the Bundibugyo virus. This allowed the disease to spread without detection before labs could confirm it and before any response measures started.

The outbreak was officially declared on 15 May, almost five months after the disease started spreading in the region.

Mr Boum pointed out that late detection contributed to the quick rise in cases, going from eight cases in three health zones to over 2,000 cases across 46 health zones.

The outbreak has now spread to 63 health zones in seven provinces, making it the largest Ebola outbreak recorded in the DRC.

He identified insecurity and limited access in eastern DRC as major problems affecting the search for active cases, contact tracing, and getting response teams into the area.

He also mentioned that community mistrust made it harder to control the spread of the virus. This situation needs stronger engagement with affected communities and more local response activities.

Mr Boum said this outbreak is different from earlier ones in DRC because of the type of virus, insecurity, access challenges, and community worries.

He emphasized the need for better diagnostic preparedness for less common viruses, especially in areas where outbreaks can spread before labs can confirm them.

The Africa CDC official urged for more resources and political backing to help responders reach affected communities and enhance disease control efforts safely.

He stressed that the response needs not just financial support but also political backing to improve security, get communities to cooperate, and access areas affected by the outbreak.