Rwanda has intensified public health surveillance and preventive measures as the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to spread, despite no confirmed cases being recorded within its borders.
The country’s Health Minister, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, said vigilance remains critical given Rwanda’s proximity to affected areas and the continued movement of people across regional borders.
The outbreak, which was declared in mid-May, has raised concerns across East and Central Africa due to the speed at which infections accumulated before detection.
“The spread of this current outbreak came as a surprise when it was announced in mid-May. What worried most people was how such a large number of cases could have built up so quickly, when it should have been detected earlier,” Nsanzimana said.
According to the latest figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), the DRC has recorded 808 confirmed Ebola cases and 192 deaths since the outbreak began.
Neighbouring Uganda has also reported 19 confirmed infections, including two fatalities.
Despite the alarming numbers, health officials say there are early signs of progress in some affected areas.
“At the moment, we can see things are moving in the right direction, even though it will still take some time in countries like Uganda, for example,” Nsanzimana said.
“They’ve gone 10 days without a new case, which is reassuring, and in other parts of the DRC as well, we’re starting to see good results. But in Ituri, which is still the epicentre, there are still new cases every day.”
However, international aid agencies have warned that the outbreak remains far from being contained.
Officials from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) expressed concern on Tuesday over the growing scale of the crisis in the DRC.
“The peak is, I think, not beyond us, but in front of us,” said Bruno Michon, the IFRC’s operations manager for the Ebola response.
Speaking from Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province and the centre of the outbreak, Michon warned that the epidemic could continue for up to a year before being fully brought under control.
“We are afraid that this could last one year,” he said.
Rwanda’s authorities say maintaining strict preventive measures is essential as long as the virus remains active in neighbouring countries.
“The longer it takes with the virus present at our borders, the more it weighs on our economies and on our daily activities,” Nsanzimana said.
“Even if there is no Ebola in Rwanda, there are still cross-border activities. There are planes that land in Kigali and go on to Entebbe, with stopovers.”
Meanwhile, humanitarian organisations have raised concerns that cuts in United States funding have weakened outbreak response efforts, leading to reduced contact tracing activities and shortages of protective equipment.
The World Health Organization has also stressed the importance of community engagement, public trust, and access to healthcare services as critical factors in stopping transmission and preventing the outbreak from spreading further across the region.
Health experts continue to urge neighbouring countries to remain on high alert as regional authorities work to contain the virus and prevent a wider public health emergency.
