Staff Reporter
THE only hope of containing the lethal Bundibugyo strain of Ebola ravaging the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since early this year is an effective vaccine, but none has yet emerged from major pharmaceutical laboratories.
The new outbreak was declared shortly after the DRC government announced the end of an Ebola epidemic in Kasai Province in December 2025.
According to the DRC’s National Health Institute, the current epidemic has affected six provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele and Tshopo.
According to health authorities, the Bundibugyo strain has a case fatality rate of 48.3%. Of 6,686 confirmed cases, there have been 3,226 deaths and 1,563 recoveries.
The Bundibugyo strain is one of four Ebola virus strains. There is currently no licensed vaccine or known cure for it.
Health officials warn that the risk of the epidemic spreading beyond the region increases daily.
The response is being complicated by local traditional beliefs that favour traditional healing over modern medicine. As a result, some patients are taken to traditional healers instead of seeking specialised treatment at health centres.
Authorities reported no new cases in South Kivu Province in the past 97 days.
Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected humans or animals. It causes severe haemorrhagic fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and internal bleeding.
Namibia has fever screening and health checks in place at border crossing points, where all travellers — whether visitors or returning citizens — arriving from high-risk health regions have their body temperature tested.
File photo for illustrative purposes only.
