Ebola virus – hundreds of suspected cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and a vaccine may not be available for months

So far, 30 people have been confirmed infected with Ebola in Ituri Province, located in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Uganda also reported two confirmed cases in its capital, Kampala, including one death, and both cases relate to individuals who had arrived from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In addition, tests showed that an American citizen was infected with the virus, and he was transferred to Germany to receive treatment, according to US authorities.

The World Health Organization is currently working with authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and the United States as the scope of pandemic response efforts expands.

The organization stated that there are several factors that raise concerns about the risk of the continued spread of the virus and the high number of deaths. In addition to the confirmed cases of infection, more than 500 suspected cases and 130 deaths suspected to be related to the disease have been reported, numbers that may change as the scope of surveillance operations, contact tracing, and laboratory tests are expanded.

Ituri Province suffers from a state of severe insecurity, as the pace of conflicts has intensified since late 2025 and their intensity has escalated significantly in recent months, leading to civilian casualties and the displacement of more than one hundred thousand people. This area is also a mining area that experiences high levels of movement, which may accelerate the spread of the virus.

Uncertainty about the extent of the virus’ spread

The current outbreak is due to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus, a strain for which no specific vaccines or drug treatments are currently available.

WHO has deployed teams, equipment, supplies and funding to support national authorities. The Director-General of the Organization approved the allocation of an additional $3.4 million from the WHO Emergency Fund, bringing the total amount allocated to $3.9 million.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva from the city of Bunia in Ituri Province, where the first cases were detected, Anne Ancia, the organization’s representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said that the outbreak of the disease had also reached North Kivu Province, with confirmed cases recorded in the cities of Butembo and Goma, while “The numbers of infections and the extent of the spread of the virus are still largely unknown.”

She noted that mystery also still surrounds how and where the outbreak began, and added: “I don’t think we have identified the first case yet. All we know at the moment is that on May 5, a person died in Bunia. The body was taken to Mungwalu and placed in a coffin. Then the family saw that the coffin was not worthy of the deceased’s status, so they replaced it with another one. The funeral ceremony was then held, and from there it began [تفشي المرض]”.

Dr. Ansia explained that the process of monitoring the initial cases was slow because local tests conducted in Bunia showed negative results for the “Zaire” strain of the Ebola virus.

The wide range of symptoms – which include fever, fatigue, diarrhea, and vomiting – has complicated the task of reaching a rapid diagnosis, and in addition, the nosebleeds, which are also associated with this disease, did not appear until the fifth day of infection.

Ultimately, the presence of the Bundibugyo strain of the virus was only conclusively revealed through tests conducted in the capital, Kinshasa. Dr. Ancia said there is an international focus on candidate vaccines or treatments that may help combat the outbreak.

She added that the Ervibo vaccine, which is a vaccine against the “Zaire” strain of the Ebola virus, is currently under study, but it is not yet available. “It will take two months to become available.”

Dr. Ancia stressed the necessity of field work at the grassroots level to contain the transmission of infection, and warned, saying: “If we resort to coercive measures and the population does not agree to them, we will see bodies disappear, and we will see suspected cases refusing to go to hospitals and health facilities.”

She stressed that health workers’ efforts are continuing to communicate and cooperate with schools, churches, and local community leaders. She said that the World Health Organization supports the government-led response in the context of… “Very complex from epidemiological, operational and humanitarian aspects.” It is characterized by insecurity and displacement.

The fragility of the situation of displaced people

For its part, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said that the two affected provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are housing more than two million internally displaced persons and returnees – in addition to 11,000 refugees from South Sudan in Ituri province and two thousand refugees from Rwanda and Burundi in the city of Goma, which is controlled by rebel groups.

It is noteworthy that the most recent outbreak of the “Ebola Zaire” virus in the country ended last December, and the shock resulting from the major epidemic that struck North Kivu and Ituri provinces during 2018 and 2019 is still ingrained in the minds of the population.

Dr. Ancia emphasized that even if the vaccine becomes available, this “This does not mean that we are only two months away from the end of the epidemic outbreak. Remember, it took two full years to end the previous epidemic.”

The risk of a Hantavirus outbreak remains low

During his speech before the World Health Assembly, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros, updated member states on the latest developments in the outbreak of the “Hantavirus” virus linked to passengers and crew members on board the Hondius cruise ship.

He said all passengers have now been repatriated and will be monitored until their quarantine period ends on June 21. He added that the ship arrived in the Dutch city of Rotterdam on Monday, where the crew members disembarked and will remain in quarantine until June 29.

The World Health Organization stated that the global risk from the Hanta virus remains low. To date, eleven cases have been reported, including three deaths; No deaths have been recorded since May 2, the date on which the organization received the first notification of this outbreak.

Dr. Tedros said: “As the current situation stands, there are no indications that we are witnessing the beginning of a broader outbreak. But of course, this situation may change. We therefore urge all affected countries to continue to monitor the condition of passengers and crew very carefully.”

Dr. Tedros stressed that the outbreak of the Ebola and Hanta viruses confirms the necessity of… “Coordinated global responses to international health threats” It also highlights the importance of both the World Health Organization and International Health Regulations in protecting public health.

Dr. Tedros said that the organization will hold an emergency committee meeting today (Tuesday) to advise on the interim recommendations necessary to address the Ebola epidemic in both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

He said he made a decision early Sunday to make an announcement “A public health emergency of international concern,” For the first time ever without holding an Emergency Committee meeting, after consultation with the Ministers of Health in both countries and based on Article 12 of the International Health Regulations. He said it was not taken “This decision is taken lightly.” Expressing deep concern about the scope of the epidemic and the speed of its spread.