The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could become the deadliest in history if it is not brought under control quickly, according to the head of Africa’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Health authorities reported 837 confirmed cases and 196 deaths as of Tuesday, while officials warned that tens of thousands of people who may have been exposed to the virus remain untraced.
Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya told a virtual meeting of African leaders and international donors in Burundi that the outbreak risks surpassing both the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic and the 2018 outbreak in eastern DRC.
He said more than 26,000 potential contacts had not yet been located, raising concerns that undetected transmission chains could continue spreading the disease.
Health officials and aid organizations say the response has been hampered by limited treatment capacity, community resistance to public health measures, and difficulties tracking infections.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warned that the outbreak has not yet reached its peak and could take up to a year to bring under control.
Authorities said the true scale of the epidemic remains uncertain more than a month after it was declared on May 15.
Unsafe traditional burial practices continue to be a major driver of transmission because Ebola victims remain highly infectious after death.
The World Health Organization said testing capacity has expanded, with laboratories now operating in several locations across the DRC and additional facilities activated in neighboring Uganda.
International health officials emphasized that public trust remains central to controlling the outbreak.
Aid workers reported that misinformation, skepticism, and fear have discouraged some people from reporting symptoms or seeking treatment.
In some communities, residents have questioned the existence of the disease or viewed containment measures as threats to local traditions.
Two treatment centers were set on fire during the early stages of the outbreak amid unrest in eastern DRC, further complicating response efforts.
Meanwhile, African leaders warned that funding remains insufficient, with less than one-fifth of the $518 million sought for containment measures raised so far.
There is currently no approved treatment or vaccine for the strain responsible for the outbreak, and the World Health Organization says a vaccine could take up to nine months to become available.
Uganda has recorded 19 cases linked to travel from the DRC, along with two reported deaths, highlighting concerns about cross-border spread.