The high-level emergency intervention follows a joint assessment mission to Bunia led by DRC Health Minister Dr. Samuel Roger Kamba, Communication Minister Patrick Muyaya Katembwe, and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Health officials confirmed that the outbreak is escalating quickly, with cases and deaths already recorded across multiple health zones in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces.

The primary challenge for medical teams on the ground is the specific nature of the virus causing the current crisis.

“While the Bundibugyo strain presents additional challenges, including the absence of a licensed vaccine or specific treatment, proven public health measures remain effective in slowing transmission and potential full recovery.”

To bridge the medical gap, the Ministry of Health and WHO announced they are moving quickly to start randomized control trials on candidate vaccines and treatments.

 In the meantime, responders are aggressively scaling up surveillance, laboratory testing, and direct patient care to break the chains of transmission.

However, health authorities noted that stopping the virus requires overcoming severe operational roadblocks on the ground.

“Persistent challenges include early detection and isolation of cases, contact tracing, safe and dignified burials, robust infection prevention and control in health facilities, and strong community awareness.”

To counter these issues, the statement noted that authorities are intensifying direct dialogues with local leaders, religious figures, women's groups, youth representatives, and the private sector to build public trust and create culturally effective solutions.

The national response is being led firmly by the DRC government with support from the United Nations system, Africa CDC, and various humanitarian partners.

Officials emphasized that the DRC brings unmatched experience from successfully defeating multiple past Ebola outbreaks.

Responders stressed that the current emergency operations must not disrupt everyday primary healthcare.

They noted that current investments in local laboratories and healthcare workers will leave a lasting legacy of health system resilience for the nation.

The DRC and WHO urged international partners to maintain their financial solidarity and called on neighboring countries to keep geographical borders open, ensuring that entry controls do not block the movement of critical medical personnel and emergency supplies.