Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda faces prolonged containment due to conflict, misinformation, and limited healthcare resources.
Newsroom (21/05/2026 Gaudium Press ) An ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with confirmed spillover into Uganda, could take more than a year to contain, humanitarian officials warn. The combination of scarce medical resources, persistent conflict, and widespread misinformation is creating a formidable barrier to controlling the deadly virus.
Rafaramalala Volanarisoa, head of office for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in the DRC, described the situation as a major emergency. “It is a very big crisis,” she said, emphasizing the inherent difficulty of managing a disease for which, in this context, effective treatment and vaccination coverage remain limited. “Ebola… there’s no treatment, there’s no vaccines, so it’s very difficult to contain.”
Operating from the capital, Kinshasa, CRS is coordinating with Caritas medical centers across seven Catholic dioceses, as well as national health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO), in an effort to slow the spread.
Strained Health Systems and Urgent Needs
Healthcare infrastructure in affected regions is under severe pressure. CRS has been channeling funding directly to frontline health centers to procure essential medical and hygiene supplies. These resources are critical not only for patient care but also for protecting healthcare workers and community educators who face daily exposure risks.
“We have sent money to them to purchase those different supplies to protect the health center staff but also to protect those who are doing education in the community,” Volanarisoa said.
The response strategy also includes community outreach through educational materials aimed at preventing transmission. However, the scale of need far exceeds available resources. Volanarisoa estimates that roughly $3 million will be required to halt the outbreak—funding that remains difficult to secure in a complex emergency setting.
Conflict and Mobility Fuel Transmission Risks
Compounding the health crisis is the volatile security environment in eastern DRC and surrounding areas. Armed groups and ongoing conflicts have forced large-scale population movements, making it harder for health officials to trace contacts and contain infections.
Displacement disrupts not only medical interventions but also surveillance efforts. People fleeing violence often cross regional and international borders, raising the risk of further spread—as evidenced by confirmed cases in Uganda.
According to the WHO, two laboratory-confirmed Ebola cases were detected in Kampala, including one fatality. Both individuals had traveled from the DRC, highlighting the regional dimension of the outbreak and the urgent need for coordinated cross-border response.
Misinformation and Cultural Resistance
Beyond logistical and security challenges, misinformation is emerging as a critical obstacle. In some communities, Ebola is dismissed as a fabrication or perceived as an attempt to undermine traditional ways of life.
Volanarisoa noted that stigma and disbelief have fueled resistance to public health measures, particularly regarding burial practices. Traditional rites often involve close contact with the deceased, a known high-risk factor for Ebola transmission.
“There is misinformation that this is something brought to change the way we live here,” she explained. Efforts to introduce safer burial procedures have met resistance, complicating attempts to reduce infection rates.
CRS’s approach relies heavily on its partnerships with local Church networks, which often hold long-standing trust within communities. However, even these relationships face limitations due to cultural norms, language barriers, and the sensitivity of the interventions required.
Assessing the Scope of the Outbreak
The full extent of the outbreak remains uncertain. Current figures indicate 33 confirmed Ebola cases in the DRC, alongside 516 suspected cases. Among those suspected cases, 131 deaths have been reported. Additionally, 541 individuals have been identified as contacts of confirmed or symptomatic cases, underscoring the potential for further spread.
Health experts caution that if confirmed cases surpass 500, containment efforts could stretch beyond a year. Such a timeline would place significant strain on already vulnerable health systems and humanitarian resources.
A Race Against Time
The unfolding crisis in the DRC and Uganda illustrates the complex interplay between disease, conflict, and societal dynamics. While medical interventions are essential, success will depend equally on building trust, combating misinformation, and stabilizing affected regions.
For organizations like CRS and their partners, the challenge is not only to provide immediate aid but also to sustain long-term engagement in communities where fear and uncertainty continue to shape responses to the outbreak.
As Volanarisoa’s warning makes clear, without coordinated action and sufficient resources, the path to containment could be long and uncertain.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from ACI Africa
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