The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have launched a US$518 million six-month emergency response plan to contain a rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, warning that health authorities are struggling to keep pace with the spread of the disease.
Announcing the strategy on Friday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak has become the fourth-largest Ebola epidemic ever recorded and requires urgent international support.
The plan, which will run from June through November 2026, aims to strengthen disease surveillance, case management, laboratory testing, community engagement and cross-border preparedness efforts.
“The outbreak is moving fast and we are still playing catch-up,” Tedros said. “Containing Ebola requires political commitment, sustained finances and trust in engaging communities.”
The epidemic circulated undetected for several weeks before being identified, leaving health authorities facing the challenge of controlling transmission that had already spread significantly by the time response measures were launched.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak has so far resulted in 381 confirmed cases and 62 confirmed deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The current epidemic is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya described the situation as the most severe outbreak ever recorded involving the Bundibugyo variant.
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“This outbreak is very serious. If you compare it with previous Bundibugyo outbreaks, this is the most serious Bundibugyo outbreak we have,” Kaseya said.
The outbreak, Congo’s 17th recorded Ebola epidemic, was formally announced by Africa CDC on May 15. Shortly afterward, the WHO declared it a public health emergency of international concern, triggering a broader international response.
Health officials say delayed detection has complicated containment efforts, increasing the need for expanded surveillance, rapid diagnosis and community outreach to prevent further transmission.
Funding remains a major concern. Kaseya said donors have pledged approximately US$315.8 million toward the response effort, although that figure is lower than an earlier estimate of nearly US$498 million after some donors revised their commitments.
It remains unclear how much of the pledged funding will be directed toward the newly announced six-month response plan.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has experienced multiple Ebola outbreaks over the past decade, but health officials say the current epidemic presents unique challenges because of the absence of licensed vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo strain.
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The WHO and Africa CDC are urging governments, international partners and donors to accelerate financial and technical support, warning that delays could allow the virus to spread further within the country and across borders.
Public health experts say rapid mobilisation of resources, combined with strong community engagement and political support, will be critical if authorities are to bring the outbreak under control before the end of the year.
