DRC battles second-largest Ebola outbreak as cases surge across 56 zones

The Democratic Republic of the Congo announced its 17th Ebola outbreak, now identified as the second-largest ever, prompting WHO and Africa CDC to declare international and continental emergencies. By August 21, the country reported 5,290 confirmed cases and 2,516 deaths across 56 health zones, with the crisis intensified by ongoing conflict and the displacement of over a million people. Frontline responders, including health workers, laboratory staff, and burial teams, operate under severe pressure, and 158 have become infected, resulting in 45 deaths among them.

While neighboring Uganda has halted local transmission and some DRC zones have seen success, the outbreak persists in Ituri and five other provinces, driving calls for a substantial scale-up of surveillance, treatment, infection control, and community outreach. The authors stress the need for reliable funding, timely payment for workers, and coordinated cross-border measures to sustain progress and protect vulnerable populations.