ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has called for an urgent scale-up of efforts to contain the rapidly escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), warning that the epidemic could become the deadliest in history if immediate action is not taken.
Speaking on Tuesday, Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya said the outbreak is spreading at an alarming rate, with confirmed infections surpassing 2,400 and deaths approaching 900 just over two months after the outbreak was declared.
“The Ebola outbreak is escalating at an alarming pace. We must act now. Unfortunately, we have now recorded 900 deaths. Sixty-five days into this outbreak, we already have more than 2,400 confirmed cases. If we do not stop it today, this will become the worst outbreak the world has ever documented,” Kaseya said.
He urged governments, international partners and humanitarian agencies to mobilize resources immediately to prevent further loss of life.
“This is not the time for delay. We must mobilise every available resource, strengthen the response on the ground and stop this outbreak before more lives are lost,” he added.
According to Africa CDC, the outbreak has spread across five provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including Ituri, Haut-Uele, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tshopo.
Health authorities say Ituri Province remains the epicentre of the outbreak, with sustained community transmission of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also reported a growing geographical spread of the disease, noting that the number of affected health zones increased from 36 to 42 within the past week.
Health experts warn that continued transmission across multiple provinces presents significant challenges to surveillance, contact tracing, treatment and vaccination efforts, particularly in regions affected by insecurity and population displacement.
Africa CDC is working alongside the DRC government, the WHO and other international partners to strengthen outbreak response measures, including disease surveillance, laboratory testing, case management, infection prevention and community engagement.
Ebola is a severe viral disease that spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.
Public health officials have reiterated that early detection, rapid isolation of patients, contact tracing and community cooperation remain critical to breaking chains of transmission and preventing further spread of the virus.
The latest warning comes as health authorities race to contain the outbreak before it expands further across the region, amid fears that delayed intervention could result in one of the largest Ebola epidemics ever recorded.
