The Ebola outbreak spreading across eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has not yet reached its peak and could continue for up to a year, a senior Red Cross official warned on Tuesday, as health authorities struggle to contain the disease amid logistical challenges and community resistance.
More than 800 cases of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola have been reported in the country, including 192 deaths, according to government figures. The strain is of particular concern because there is currently no proven treatment or licensed vaccine specifically targeting it.
Speaking from eastern Congo via video link, Bruno Michon, operations manager for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said the outbreak remains on an upward trajectory.
"It is very difficult to know exactly to what extent the epidemic is spreading, but the peak is not behind us, it is still ahead of us," Michon told reporters.
"We are afraid that this could last one year before the disease is brought under control."
The virus, which is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids and can remain contagious after death, has spread rapidly across three provinces in eastern Congo. Health officials say the true scale of the outbreak remains uncertain more than a month after it was first declared.
Efforts to contain the epidemic have been hindered by a shortage of treatment facilities and resistance among some communities to public health measures designed to limit transmission.
According to Michon, Red Cross teams working on community outreach and safe burials have faced growing hostility in recent days, including verbal abuse, threats, and attacks.
"Building trust takes time. It requires honesty, patience and humility," he said, stressing that community cooperation is essential to controlling the outbreak.
The latest warning underscores the significant challenges facing health authorities and humanitarian organizations as they seek to prevent the epidemic from expanding further in a region already grappling with insecurity and limited healthcare infrastructure.
Experts say strengthening public awareness, improving access to treatment, and fostering trust between affected communities and response teams will be critical to containing the outbreak in the months ahead.
