Responding to the Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing a rapidly escalating Ebola outbreak that is already placing immense strain on vulnerable communities and the country's fragile health system. On May 15, the World Health Organization and the Africa Center for Disease Control reported 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths—including four healthcare workers—in Ituri province, a small, impoverished region in the northeast of the country that borders South Sudan and Uganda. Uganda has already confirmed one case, raising urgent concern about further cross-border transmission.

The outbreak is unfolding in an extremely challenging context. Ituri province is a mineral-rich region plagued by conflict and instability driven by nonstate armed groups. The two most affected health zones contain densely populated mining communities with transient populations, accelerating the risk of transmission. Health infrastructure is critically weak, with only 7% to 34% of health facilities having proper infection prevention and control (IPC) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) coverage. There is a critical shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), trained health personnel and isolation and triage capacity.

International Medical Corps has been providing care in the DRC since 1999 and our rapid response team has already mobilized—including trained medical staff, IPC and WASH specialists, case management leads, and staff skilled in community engagement and supply-chain management. We are working closely with national health authorities and partner organizations to scale up the response.

Drawing on extensive Ebola experience—including responding to the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic, multiple DRC outbreaks between 2018 and 2022, and the 2025 Kasai province outbreak—International Medical Corps is focusing on interventions critical to breaking transmission chains: establishing screening and referral units to rapidly identify suspected cases; operating Ebola Treatment Units to provide isolation and clinical care for confirmed cases; supporting infection prevention and control measures, including training frontline health workers and ensuring access to protective equipment; and strengthening community outreach and surveillance systems to facilitate early referral and build trust in affected communities.

Your gift will directly support International Medical Corps' ability to procure urgently needed supplies—including PPE, IPC equipment, pharmaceuticals and WASH materials—and to deploy and sustain key personnel in the field who are working to contain this deadly disease and save lives.

*Please note for recurring donations: Once we have determined that the community can continue to respond to the after-effects of this emergency without us, we will scale back our response efforts. At that time, we will redirect your future donations where they are needed most, to help us respond to future outbreaks of conflict, disease or disaster.