DR Congo Set to Open Its Largest Ebola Treatment Centre as Outbreak Grows at Exceptional Pace

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is preparing to open the 100-bed Rwankole Ebola Treatment Centre in Bunia. The new facility will serve as the largest Ebola treatment centre in the country. It represents a desperate medical scale-up to combat a public health crisis that the World Health Organisation warned on August 1 is accelerating with alarming speed.

The scale of the mass-casualty event is devastating. As of Monday, August 3, public health authorities in the DRC recorded 3,874 confirmed Ebola cases and 1,751 deaths, reflecting a 45.1 per cent fatality rate.

Key Takeaways

• The new Rwankole Ebola Treatment Centre in Bunia is a 100-bed facility designed to combat the spreading health crisis.
• The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus.
• Ituri Province serves as the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for nearly 90 per cent of all confirmed cases.
• There are currently no approved vaccines or proven safe treatments for the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.

The New Epicentre Response

The newly constructed medical infrastructure in Bunia represents a critical expansion of the country’s frontline healthcare capacity. The facility features 60 beds for confirmed cases alongside 40 beds reserved for suspected cases, providing a dedicated and secure space to isolate patients. The new centre will also include specialised facilities specifically designed to provide care for pregnant women infected with or suspected of having the virus.

The centre will employ over 300 staff members to manage the overwhelming influx of affected individuals. The urgency of the new facility is underscored by the fact that out of 44 Ebola deaths recorded on Monday, 30 occurred within local communities rather than in treatment centres.

Speaking about the new medical infrastructure in Bunia, Dr Sambo Sidikou of the International Medical Corps detailed the operational scope. “So, the work is nearing completion. It is a 100-bed facility, with a capacity of 100 beds, comprising 60 beds for confirmed cases and 40 beds for suspected cases. More than 300 staff members will be working at the centre, and we are counting on the community to help accelerate the process of identifying cases,” he said.

An Outbreak Beyond Capacity

Despite the rapid construction of new treatment wards, the sheer volume of infections continues to test international and local medical teams. The geographical focus of the crisis remains heavily concentrated in eastern DRC, with Ituri Province serving as the epicentre. Consequently, this single province accounts for nearly 90 per cent of all confirmed cases across the nation.

Addressing reporters in Geneva on Tuesday, August 4, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic highlighted the severe strain on medical resources. Health officials have reported that critical supplies and equipment are no longer reaching responders at the necessary scale due to international aid cuts made by Donald Trump and Elon Musk. He stated, “The outbreak is unfortunately still expanding beyond the capacity of the response.”

The Search for a Cure

Compounding the structural and staffing shortages is a stark medical reality. The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus. As of August 4, there are no proven safe and effective treatments, preventive medicines, or approved vaccines available for this specific strain, leaving doctors with highly limited tools to save lives. While no vaccines are approved, progress is being made; a Phase 1 clinical trial for Moderna’s mRNA-1469 vaccine began in Canada on August 3, and a trial for an Oxford-developed candidate launched in the UK on July 24.

Nevertheless, urgent scientific efforts are actively underway on the ground. A post-exposure prophylaxis trial, led by the National Institute for Biomedical Research and international partners, has launched in the DRC. The trial has already enrolled over 25 high-risk contacts to evaluate whether a 10-day oral course of obeldesivir can prevent the onset of the disease.

Operational Challenges

Medical intervention alone cannot contain the virus. Broader environmental and social factors continue to complicate the emergency response. Specifically, high levels of local insecurity and widespread hunger make it incredibly difficult for health workers to track contacts and isolate suspected cases safely within affected communities.

Carl Skau, acting Executive Director of the World Food Programme, emphasised how these systemic vulnerabilities actively accelerate the public health crisis. He warned, “Ebola feeds on delay, fear, and hunger.”

FAQs

1. What is the new treatment centre?

The Rwankole Ebola Treatment Centre in Bunia is a new 100-bed medical facility, the largest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, featuring 60 beds for confirmed cases and 40 for suspected cases.

2. What strain of Ebola is spreading?

The current outbreak in the DRC is caused by the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus.

3. Is there a vaccine for this outbreak?

As of early August 2026, there are no approved vaccines, proven safe treatments, or preventive medicines for the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus.

4. Where is the epicentre of the outbreak?

Ituri Province in the eastern DRC is the epicentre, accounting for nearly 90 per cent of all confirmed Ebola cases.

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