Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has described the spread of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo as “deeply alarming”, with efforts to contain the outbreak faltering in the face of community resistance and logistical hurdles. The warning comes as the World Health Organisation reports 45 confirmed cases and 28 deaths in the latest surge, concentrated in the northeastern province of North Kivu.
MSF’s emergency coordinator, Dr. Jean-Clément Cabrol, stated that the organisation is “running out of time” as the virus moves into densely populated areas. “We are seeing transmission chains that we cannot trace. People are fleeing treatment centres, and there are attacks on health workers. This is a recipe for disaster,” he said.
The outbreak, declared on 12 August, is the third in DR Congo since 2018. The current strain, the Sudan ebolavirus, for which no licensed vaccine exists, complicates response efforts. Unlike the Zaire strain targeted by the Ervebo vaccine, this variant requires experimental treatments still in clinical trials.
Local authorities have imposed movement restrictions in affected zones, but compliance is uneven. A Red Cross volunteer told reporters that burial teams were unable to access one village due to armed groups. “We cannot guarantee safety. The community does not trust us,” he said.
The World Health Organisation has allocated $5 million in emergency funding, but MSF warns this is insufficient. “We need a coordinated international response. This is not just a Congolese problem; it is a global health security threat,” Cabrol added.
The outbreak is occurring against a backdrop of decades-long conflict in eastern DR Congo, where dozens of armed groups operate. This has hampered surveillance and vaccination campaigns. In 2019, the country faced the second-worst Ebola outbreak on record, with over 2,200 deaths.
Neighbouring countries have heightened screening at borders. Uganda has already reported two suspected cases. The African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a travel advisory.
MSF has called for an immediate ceasefire in affected areas to allow safe access for health teams. “This is a moment for leadership. If the international community fails to act, this will be a catastrophe,” Cabrol said.
