Ebola Returns to the DRC: The World Cannot Afford Delay

For the first time in three years, the Democratic Republic of Congo has declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease. The first case, a 34-year-old pregnant woman, was confirmed in Kasai Province in late August. Since then, the virus has spread across several districts, with more than 30 suspected cases, 20 confirmed infections, and at least 16 deaths already reported. Among the victims are health workers, a stark reminder of the heavy toll borne by those on the frontlines.

The World Health Organization has raised alarm over the pace and spread of infections, warning that the outbreak may expand beyond Kasai. One case has already been detected some 70 kilometers from the epicenter, heightening concerns about wider transmission and cross-border spread, particularly to Angola. Weak health infrastructure, difficult terrain, and unsafe burial practices further complicate containment efforts, while recent cuts in foreign assistance threaten to blunt the response.

In an urgent move, WHO has launched a vaccination campaign in the epicenter, delivering 400 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine from Congo’s limited stockpile. The International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision has approved the dispatch of an additional 45,000 doses to bolster protection. Vaccination offers hope, but experts caution that the window to halt Ebola is narrow and decisive action is critical.

The Ebola virus was first identified in 1976 during two simultaneous outbreaks in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) and Sudan. The outbreak in Zaire occurred near the Ebola River, from which the virus takes its name. Both events revealed a highly lethal disease characterized by sudden fever, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, internal and external bleeding. In the early years, case fatality rates were extremely high, sometimes exceeding 80 percent, and the lack of medical knowledge, protective equipment, and treatment options allowed the virus to spread rapidly in rural communities.

Over the following decades, smaller outbreaks occurred intermittently across Central Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Sudan. These outbreaks were often linked to contact with infected animals, especially fruit bats, which are believed to be the natural reservoir of the virus. Human-to-human transmission was most often associated with direct contact with bodily fluids, unsafe caregiving, and traditional burial practices. Each new flare-up tested the capacity of fragile health systems, and though outbreaks were usually localized, they created widespread fear and disrupted communities.

The most devastating episode in the virus’s history came between 2014 and 2016, when Ebola spread across West Africa, mainly affecting Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. This outbreak was unprecedented in scale, resulting in more than 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths, and it exposed critical weaknesses in global outbreak preparedness and response. Since then, efforts to improve surveillance, diagnostics, and vaccination have grown, leading to better containment in subsequent outbreaks. However, Ebola continues to resurface in Central Africa, underscoring both its persistence in nature and the need for constant vigilance. The world has the tools to contain Ebola—vaccines, surveillance systems, and treatment protocols—but they must be mobilized rapidly and with sustained commitment. Failure to act swiftly risks not only more lives lost in Congo but also the possibility of a regional emergency. This outbreak is a warning. The international community must match words with resources, urgency, and solidarity. Ebola has returned, and hesitation is not an option.

Source: Reuters