Parthesarathy Rajendran, Executive Director of MSF South Asia, told CNBC-TV18 that the epidemiological situation remains unclear because health workers are struggling to trace infections and isolate patients quickly enough in a region already weakened by conflict and displacement.
“The epidemiological situation remains very unclear,” Rajendran said. “It is extremely difficult for MSF to understand the full scale of the outbreak because of limited diagnostics and testing availability.”
The warning comes as the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda becomes the third largest since the virus was first identified in 1976. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 900 suspected cases and over 100 confirmed infections have been reported so far, alongside more than 170 suspected deaths.
The WHO has raised Congo’s national risk assessment from high to very high and declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, even as the global risk level remains low.
Rajendran said the outbreak’s epicentre in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is particularly vulnerable because the region is already grappling with armed conflict, large-scale displacement, and fragile healthcare infrastructure.
“With the Ebola virus having its epicentre in this region, panic and population movement are likely to increase tremendously,” he said. “Without sufficient detection and isolation, containment becomes extremely difficult.”
MSF also expressed concern over rising attacks on healthcare facilities and growing mistrust among local communities, which are complicating efforts to contain the virus.
On the night of May 22, a tent provided by MSF at a hospital in Ituri Province was set on fire. While no injuries were reported, 18 patients with suspected Ebola reportedly fled the facility during the incident.
The following day, protests reportedly broke out after disagreements emerged over the burial of a local priest who had died after being infected with Ebola. Rajendran said safe and dignified burials are essential during Ebola outbreaks to prevent further transmission.
“We understand that the early stages of any outbreak generate significant fear, uncertainty, and concern among affected communities,” he said. “This is exactly why community engagement and trust-building are absolutely essential in any Ebola response.”
Health officials believe the virus may have already spread for weeks before authorities detected the first confirmed case. Rajendran said the first known patient was a nurse from the Bunia region who died with Ebola symptoms on April 24.
Since the outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, Rajendran said there is also a shortage of strain-specific testing kits, making screening and isolation more difficult.
“This is especially challenging because healthcare workers are on the frontline when patients present with symptoms,” he said. “They are the ones who bear the brunt of these viruses if we cannot track and isolate cases in advance.”
The WHO has warned that fear, misinformation, and insecurity are undermining contact tracing efforts in Ituri Province, a region bordering Uganda and South Sudan that is home to nearly five million people.
Also Read | WHO chief says fast-moving Ebola epidemic is outpacing response efforts
Meanwhile, authorities in Bunia have increased health screenings at checkpoints, while Uganda confirmed three additional Ebola cases over the weekend, taking its total infections to five.
Rajendran also warned that the outbreak risks overwhelming an already strained healthcare system dealing with malaria, tuberculosis, and other preventable diseases.
“The health system is unable to cope,” he said, adding that funding cuts to healthcare infrastructure could worsen mortality rates further if the outbreak continues to spread unchecked.
