DRC battles record-breaking Ebola outbreak amid armed conflict

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is experiencing the largest Ebola outbreak in its recorded history, made especially dangerous not only by its scale but by the fact that the virus circulated undetected for months before being properly identified.

Speaking with Sharon Gaffney, Heather Kerr, Country Director for Congo at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), explained that the response has faced serious obstacles. These include delays in diagnosing cases, difficulty distinguishing this particular strain — known as Bundibugyo — from other common illnesses, and the operational strain of working in a region affected by active armed conflict.

Delayed detection

According to Kerr, one of the key reasons this outbreak became so severe is that the Bundibugyo strain's early symptoms can resemble those of more common illnesses, making accurate diagnosis difficult. As a result, the virus was able to spread for an extended period before health workers correctly identified it as Ebola.

Conflict complicates the response

The presence of armed groups and ongoing conflict in the region has created significant challenges for health workers, limiting access to affected areas, disrupting the delivery of medical supplies, and complicating disease monitoring. These conditions have made it considerably harder for humanitarian organizations and health authorities to respond effectively and contain further spread of the virus.