KINSHASA — The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is worsening, with humanitarian organisation Oxfam warning that the true scale of infections may be far larger than official figures suggest due to poor sanitation, limited water access, and under‑reporting in remote communities.
The current epidemic, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, has spread across several provinces including Ituri, Haut‑Uélé, and Tshopo.
Health officials have confirmed more than 600 suspected cases and over 130 deaths, though aid agencies believe the actual number could be significantly higher.
Oxfam Raises Alarm Over Hidden Transmission
In a statement released Tuesday, Oxfam said field teams have encountered entire villages without functioning water systems or sanitation facilities, creating conditions ripe for viral spread.
“Communities are forced to draw water from contaminated sources,” said Oxfam’s regional director for Central Africa. “This is not just a health emergency — it’s a crisis of infrastructure and trust.”
The charity warned that limited testing capacity and delayed reporting from rural health zones are masking the outbreak’s full extent.
Health Workers Struggle Amid Resource Shortages
Local medical staff say they are facing severe shortages of protective equipment, fuel, and testing kits.
Mobile laboratories in Bunia and Watsa have reported frequent power outages, forcing delays in sample analysis.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has deployed additional emergency teams to reinforce surveillance and vaccination efforts in newly affected areas.
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, said the organisation is “deeply concerned” about the virus’s silent spread. “We are detecting transmission chains that were previously unreported,” she noted.
Bundibugyo Strain: Rare but Rapidly Spreading
The Bundibugyo variant, first identified in Uganda in 2007, is less lethal than the Zaire strain but spreads quickly through contact with bodily fluids.
Epidemiologists say its lower fatality rate may paradoxically contribute to wider transmission, as infected individuals survive longer and remain contagious.
Health experts are urging intensified community engagement and vaccination campaigns to curb the outbreak.
International Response and Funding Gaps
The WHO has classified the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, prompting renewed calls for funding from global partners.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and UNICEF have expanded operations in the region, focusing on hygiene education and safe burial practices.
However, aid groups warn that insecurity and mistrust of health authorities continue to hinder access to affected communities.
Outlook
Officials say containment will depend on restoring clean water systems, improving sanitation, and rebuilding public confidence in health interventions.
For now, the Bundibugyo outbreak remains one of the most complex health emergencies in Central Africa — a crisis where infrastructure failure and misinformation threaten to outpace medical response.
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