The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has the potential to become the deadliest on record, according to the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Jean Kaseya warned on Tuesday that unless critical gaps in the response are addressed promptly, the outbreak could escalate significantly, potentially costing billions of dollars to control.

Government data indicate that over 800 cases of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola have been reported in the DRC, with 192 fatalities so far. This strain is particularly concerning as there is currently no proven treatment or vaccine available. The virus, which spreads through contact with bodily fluids—including from deceased victims—is rapidly advancing across three provinces.

“If we don’t stop the outbreak very soon, it will be worse than what we had in West Africa and eastern DRC,” Kaseya stated during a virtual meeting with African heads of state and international donors convened in Burundi. His remarks recall the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak that affected Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, resulting in over 11,000 deaths, as well as a less severe outbreak in eastern DRC in 2018.

Efforts to combat the current outbreak include an African Union plan to raise $518 million over the next six months. However, the initiative has yet to secure significant funding, according to Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, who is also chair of the African Union. This shortfall in resources raises concerns about the capacity to effectively contain the virus.

Additional warnings about the outbreak’s trajectory came from Bruno Michon, operations manager for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Speaking via video link from eastern Congo, Michon said the epidemic has not yet peaked. “We are afraid that this could last one year to end this disease,” he said, highlighting the prolonged nature of the crisis.

One major driver of Ebola transmission in the region remains unsafe traditional burial practices. Family members often come into direct contact with the bodies of victims without appropriate protective measures, which significantly increases the risk of spreading the virus.

Authorities and aid organizations continue to urge quick and comprehensive interventions to contain the outbreak, focusing on improving surveillance, community education, and safe burial procedures to slow the virus’s spread. Without urgent action and sufficient funding, the humanitarian and economic toll in the DRC and potentially the wider region could be severe.