The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has recorded 1,502 confirmed Ebola cases, including 473 deaths, as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the outbreak remains serious, with transmission continuing across two eastern provinces. The figures, released on Friday by DRC public health authorities, mark the largest Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak ever documented.

Current Situation on the Ground

Of the confirmed cases, 628 patients are currently in isolation or hospitalisation, while 229 recoveries have been recorded. Authorities have additionally logged 213 suspected cases, including 63 deaths, as contact-tracing efforts continue in affected zones.

WHO Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Yakub Janabi, speaking at an online media briefing, confirmed that active transmission is ongoing in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu. He described the current outbreak as 'the largest Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak ever recorded.'

Why Containment Remains Difficult

Pierre Akilimali, a WHO expert deployed in the DRC, said the outbreak is unfolding in areas marked by insecurity and armed group activity, severely hampering case detection and contact tracing. He noted that parts of the affected region in Ituri are active mining zones, where high population mobility — including frequent movement of workers from outside — has elevated the risk of further virus spread.

This combination of conflict, displacement, and economic activity in remote areas is a recurring challenge in DRC Ebola responses. The country has battled multiple Ebola outbreaks over the past decade, but this is the first of the Bundibugyo strain at this scale.

Clinical Trial and Treatment Gaps

The WHO confirmed on Thursday that a clinical trial had begun enrolling patients in the DRC to evaluate potential treatments for Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus. Critically, there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for this strain — a significant distinction from the better-known Zaire strain, for which approved vaccines exist.

Uganda's Cross-Border Response

Benjamin Sensasi, a WHO expert in Uganda, said the country had reported 20 confirmed cases as of Thursday, of which 15 were imported cases. The remaining five locally infected individuals were all detected while in quarantine, and no community transmission has been observed in Uganda so far.

The DRC and Uganda have established a joint cross-border response mechanism and signed a memorandum of understanding to share surveillance data and reinforce screening and treatment capacity at border areas, according to Sensasi. The bilateral coordination is seen as critical given the porous nature of the DRC-Uganda border and ongoing population movement.

What Comes Next

With no approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain and active transmission in conflict-affected zones, health authorities face a complex containment challenge. The outcome of the ongoing clinical trial and the effectiveness of the DRC-Uganda joint mechanism will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.