The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have called for urgent, community-led action to contain the worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The agencies made the call after a joint high-level mission to Uganda and the DRC on 4 and 5 August to assess response efforts and identify areas requiring stronger regional coordination.
The delegation, led by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Africa CDC Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya and WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Mohamed Janabi, visited Kampala, Bunia and Kinshasa.
They met government officials, health workers, community leaders and response partners to assess the outbreak and address operational challenges.
In Bunia, the epicentre of the outbreak, the delegation visited the Rwangole Ebola Treatment Centre to review patient care, treatment capacity and conditions facing frontline health workers.
Africa CDC and WHO said faster case detection, comprehensive contact tracing, improved access to treatment and stronger support for health workers were critical to stopping transmission.
The agencies urged communities to recognise symptoms early, report suspected cases promptly and seek medical attention without fear.
They also called for the involvement of religious, traditional, women and youth leaders to strengthen public trust, counter misinformation and improve community participation in surveillance and response activities.
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According to the agencies, insecurity, population displacement, misinformation and limited healthcare resources continue to hinder the response.
As of 4 August, the DRC had recorded 3,973 confirmed Ebola cases, 1,801 deaths and 776 recoveries across 51 health zones.
Ituri Province remains the worst-affected area, accounting for nearly 90 per cent of confirmed cases, while contact tracing coverage stood at 75 per cent, below the 95 per cent target.
The agencies called for more treatment centres, stronger laboratory services, additional ambulances and safe burial operations, as well as better protection, equipment and timely payment for frontline health workers.
They also commended Uganda for containing its Ebola outbreak through rapid detection, contact tracing and community engagement.
Africa CDC and WHO reaffirmed their commitment to supporting a coordinated response involving governments, health workers, partners and affected communities, while urging countries to strengthen surveillance rather than impose unnecessary travel or trade restrictions.
