Combating Ebola in Congo: Five Organizations Leading the Response Amid Ongoing Crisis

Misinformation and deep-seated distrust continue to hinder public health efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where responders are battling the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak on record. Although the crisis has largely disappeared from international headlines, a coalition of local and global organizations remains on the ground delivering critical medical care, surveillance, and community engagement to contain the virus.

Since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency on May 17, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed over 5,200 cases of the rare Bundibugyo strain, with more than 2,500 fatalities. As of August 7, the DRC’s National Public Health Institute reported more than 550 patients in isolation. Neighboring Uganda recorded 20 cases and two deaths, though no new infections have been reported there since June 21, according to the WHO. For context, the historic 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic—the deadliest on record—claimed over 11,300 lives.

The current outbreak marks only the third appearance of the Bundibugyo strain in Central Africa. Congolese officials cite a 44 percent fatality rate, and no licensed vaccine yet exists for this variant. The response is further complicated by active military conflict in eastern DRC, the epicenter of the outbreak.

“When everybody became aware of what was happening, we were already months behind where we should have been as a global community in stopping the spread of this disease,” said Erica Tavares, a senior director at the International Medical Corps.

The United States has pledged $512 million in direct aid and implemented a temporary travel ban restricting entry for non-U.S. citizens coming from the affected region. Meanwhile, frontline health workers in Congo continue their grueling fight against the virus.

Below are profiles of five organizations central to the ongoing public health response—a representative sample of the diverse coalition operating in the DRC, ranging from local nonprofits to major international agencies.

1. Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

As the African Union’s specialized public health agency, Africa CDC supports member states in disease threat detection and response. On June 5, Africa CDC and the WHO unveiled a joint Ebola response plan projecting a need for over $500 million over six months. The strategy prioritizes strengthening cross-border communication and coordination under a unified “One Response” framework. Africa CDC has issued guidelines for travel and public gatherings that emphasize prevention—such as avoiding contact with bodily fluids—rather than imposing blanket travel restrictions on affected areas.

2. Congo’s National Institute for Biomedical Research

Operating under the Congolese Ministry of Public Health, this institute leads viral monitoring and documentation efforts. Its teams conduct on-site testing and have established laboratories in Ituri province, the region hardest hit by the outbreak. In July, the agency intensified genomic surveillance—analyzing the virus’s genetic evolution—which officials describe as an “essential tool” for containment and a critical asset for ongoing vaccine development trials.

3. Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières)

With over two decades of experience in Ituri addressing humanitarian and medical crises, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) provides emergency medical aid and disease surveillance. Kate White, an emergency medical coordinator based in Bunia, Ituri’s capital, noted that MSF’s financial stability and operational scale allow it to collaborate effectively with partner organizations to distribute resources and care. More than 1,400 MSF personnel are currently deployed to the Ebola response. Looking ahead, White said the organization will reinforce existing primary healthcare programs to bolster readiness for any further viral spread.

4. International Medical Corps

Since mid-May, International Medical Corps (IMC) has deployed rapid response teams to manage cases and deliver community education tailored to the outbreak. The organization operates treatment centers for confirmed patients and transit centers for those awaiting test results. “We’re also supporting the continuity of primary healthcare in the most at-risk regions,” Tavares said. “We want people to continue to come to facilities.”

Training local health professionals is a cornerstone of IMC’s strategy, fostering partnerships with groups like Africa Humanitarian Action. “Historically, we’ve always had training as part of our response program,” Tavares explained. “It means that [other organizations] will just have that much more capacity in the future and looking forward.” IMC aims to eventually hand over its facilities to local health leadership, leaving communities better equipped for future outbreaks. The organization also prioritizes improvements in hygiene and water sanitation infrastructure.

5. SOFEPADI

SOFEPADI is a Congolese nonprofit led by and serving women and girls. Its mission centers on preventing gender-based violence, reducing inequality, and empowering women to manage their own health. During the current outbreak, SOFEPADI is working to protect women, who have historically been overrepresented in Ebola mortality due to their disproportionate role as community caregivers. As the organization stated in a June 1 post: “If the women fall, the whole community falls with them.”

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