WHO Confident Ebola Outbreak in Congo Can Be Controlled Within Three Months
WHO says with adequate resources, Congo's Ebola outbreak, second deadliest on record, can be contained within three months despite ongoing challenges.
By John Mtongoi Newsroom
August 19, 2026
2 min read
The World Health Organization (WHO) remains optimistic that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) can be brought under control within three months, provided sufficient resources are mobilized.
Currently the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak recorded, it has claimed at least 2,325 lives and spread to six provinces, making it Congo's most severe among 17 previous outbreaks.
Challenges Hindering Containment
- Insufficient funding, with only about 60% of the $115 million needed raised so far
- Delayed case detection and overwhelmed surveillance teams
- Armed conflict complicating response efforts
- Limited availability of vaccines and treatments for the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus
- Between 70-80% of new cases have no known links to existing patients, indicating ongoing undetected transmission
Despite these hurdles, WHO has increased capacity by adding 400 treatment beds in the last two weeks and plans to deploy more epidemiologists to enhance contact tracing.
Thierno Balde, WHO incident manager reporting from Bunia, emphasized that while the situation remains difficult, dedicated teams are working relentlessly to control the outbreak.
However, experts caution that the outbreak is far from over. Dr. Wessam Mankoula of Africa CDC highlighted that the magnitude of the crisis is still not fully understood and that containment will extend beyond a few months.
The WHO Emergency Committee is scheduled to meet to decide whether to extend the public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) status and provide updated guidance to affected countries.
