GENEVA — The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on Tuesday that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has not yet reached its peak and could take up to a year to contain, as international officials warned of gaps in surveillance and response efforts.
The IFRC made the assessment as G7 leaders meeting in Evian, France, called for a coordinated response to the outbreak, which has killed nearly 200 people in the DRC and Uganda, according to officials.
Bruno Michon, IFRC operations manager for the outbreak, said in Geneva that the peak of the epidemic “is not beyond us, but in front of us” and said containment efforts could continue for about a year. He spoke from Bunia in northeastern DRC, where the outbreak is centered.
World Health Organization figures show 808 confirmed cases and 192 deaths in the DRC since the outbreak was declared on May 15. Uganda has reported 19 confirmed cases and two deaths.
Health agencies said the outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved vaccines or treatments exist. They said ongoing conflict and displacement in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces have complicated response operations.
Aid groups, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and Oxfam, said surveillance and testing capacity remain limited, creating gaps in detecting transmission chains. WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said “blind spots” remain in identifying the full scope of the outbreak.
Officials said concerns include weak contact tracing, shortages of medical supplies, and limited access to clean water in affected areas. They also cited insecurity and community mistrust as obstacles to response efforts, with reports of attacks on health workers and volunteers.
The Congolese National Institute of Public Health warned of possible geographic expansion of the outbreak if control measures are not strengthened.
Health organizations said efforts are being scaled up, but they emphasized that containment depends on improving surveillance, community engagement, and safe medical practices.