By Stephen Simon
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading more widely than official figures indicate, raising fresh concerns over the country’s ability to contain the deadly virus and prevent it from spilling into neighbouring countries.
WHO officials said many infected people are not reporting to health facilities for treatment, making it difficult for authorities to accurately track the outbreak and interrupt chains of transmission. The agency noted that while the current Ebola strain appears to be less deadly than those recorded in previous outbreaks, undetected community transmission remains a major public health concern.
According to the UN health agency, several confirmed cases have been linked to communities where patients either delayed seeking medical attention or avoided health centres altogether, increasing the risk of further infections. Health workers are continuing contact tracing, laboratory testing and surveillance in affected areas in an effort to contain the virus.
WHO said vaccination campaigns and public awareness programmes are ongoing, with frontline health workers and high-risk contacts receiving Ebola vaccines as part of emergency response measures. The organisation stressed that early detection, prompt isolation of patients and community cooperation remain critical to stopping the spread of the disease.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has experienced several Ebola outbreaks over the past decade, prompting significant improvements in emergency response capacity. However, insecurity in some parts of the country, coupled with limited access to healthcare and public mistrust, continues to complicate disease surveillance and containment efforts.
Public health experts warned that although the current outbreak has not reached the scale of previous epidemics, the presence of undetected infections could undermine progress made so far. They urged neighbouring countries to strengthen border surveillance, improve preparedness and maintain close collaboration with international health agencies to prevent cross-border transmission.
The WHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Congolese government through technical assistance, medical supplies and disease surveillance as efforts continue to bring the outbreak under control. The agency also called on communities to report suspected cases promptly and adhere to public health guidelines to prevent further spread of the virus.
