Public health officials are warning that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is becoming increasingly difficult to control after nearly 300 people who tested positive for the virus could not be accounted for.
The warning came from Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya, who said the missing patients represent a major danger because health workers do not know where they are, who they have had contact with, or whether they are receiving care. The outbreak is taking place in eastern DRC, where conflict, displacement and limited access to communities are making contact tracing extremely difficult.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a less common form of the virus. According to the World Health Organization, there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for this strain, although clinical trials are being prepared and health agencies are testing possible treatment and prevention tools.
So far, DRC has recorded more than 1,100 confirmed cases and nearly 300 deaths, while Uganda has also reported cases linked to the outbreak. Public health officials fear the numbers could rise sharply if community transmission continues and if displaced people in camps remain unreachable.
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A modelling study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases projected that the outbreak could reach roughly 8,210 cases and 1,420 deaths by mid-September under its central scenario. The same modelling suggested there is about a 70% chance the outbreak could spread to neighboring South Sudan in the coming weeks.
The problem is not only medical. It is also humanitarian and logistical. More than 1 million people are living in displacement camps in affected areas, and health workers reportedly do not have access to some of those camps. Without access, officials cannot properly isolate patients, trace contacts, monitor symptoms or safely bury those who die from the disease.
Kaseya said only about 30% of new cases are among known contacts of confirmed patients. That is a troubling sign because it suggests many infections are happening outside the official tracing system. In an Ebola outbreak, identifying contacts quickly is one of the most important tools for stopping transmission.
Treatment centers are also under heavy pressure. Africa CDC has said Ebola treatment bed occupancy is around 95%, even though officials believe the outbreak has not yet reached its peak. If more patients arrive and there are not enough beds, people may remain in communities longer, increasing the risk of further spread.
The funding gap is another major concern. Africa CDC and WHO had previously estimated that $518 million would be needed for health response efforts, but Africa CDC has now raised the total need to $1.4 billion when humanitarian needs are included. Reuters reported that only about 13% of pledged funding had been released so far.
That shortage matters because Ebola response is expensive and labor-intensive. It requires protective equipment, trained health workers, testing labs, transport, safe isolation units, community outreach, contact tracers and support for families under monitoring. In conflict zones, all of those tasks become harder and more costly.
The outbreak also shows why trust is central to public health. In areas affected by violence, displacement and years of weak government services, some residents may distrust officials or outside health teams. If people fear isolation centers, armed groups, stigma or government control, they may hide symptoms or avoid health workers.
That can make Ebola far more dangerous. The virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people or contaminated materials. It does not spread like a common airborne cold, but once transmission chains move through families, clinics or burial practices, outbreaks can grow quickly.
The DRC has experience fighting Ebola, but this outbreak is complicated by the strain involved, the conflict setting and the number of people who cannot be reached. The 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak killed more than 11,000 people and showed how quickly delayed response can become a regional and global emergency.
Health officials are now trying to expand local response capacity. Authorities plan to recruit thousands of community health workers from affected areas to improve contact tracing and communication. That approach could help because local workers may be more trusted than outside teams.
For neighboring countries, preparedness is now urgent. Uganda has already reported cases, and South Sudan may be at risk if cross-border movement continues without strong screening and surveillance. Regional coordination will be essential to prevent the outbreak from spreading further.
The next few weeks will be decisive. If health teams can find the missing patients, improve access to displacement camps and expand contact tracing, the outbreak may still be slowed. If not, the projections of thousands of cases and deaths could become reality.
Why It Matters
The DRC Ebola outbreak is a major public health emergency with regional consequences. Nearly 300 missing Ebola-positive patients create a serious risk of uncontrolled community transmission. For ordinary people in affected areas, the crisis threatens families, hospitals and displaced communities. For neighboring countries, the concern is cross-border spread. For international donors, the outbreak is a test of whether funding and response systems can move fast enough.
What Comes Next
Health agencies are expected to expand contact tracing, recruit local community health workers and begin trials for potential treatments and prevention tools. International donors will face pressure to release pledged funding quickly. The biggest immediate challenges are locating missing patients, gaining access to displacement camps and preventing wider spread into Uganda, South Sudan or other neighboring areas.
WATCH: A video report from DR Congo showed local scenes as health officials stepped up efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak.
🚨 DR Congo is stepping up efforts to contain a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak.
More than 1,000 infections have been reported as health authorities introduce experimental treatments and expand emergency response measures.#DRCongo #Ebola pic.twitter.com/no6DFo6qKb
— The Papyrus Global TV (@thepapyrusglobe) June 26, 2026
