Congo-Kinshasa: Ebola - IOM Urges Wider Surveillance Beyond Formal Routes in DR Congo

What the report says

The International Organization for Migration says Ebola surveillance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo must extend beyond official border crossings and checkpoints because most recent detections have been linked to informal transit routes. In remarks reported by UN News and distributed by AllAfrica, IOM said 71 confirmed Ebola cases have been identified along transit corridors since the outbreak began nearly six months ago, with 95% of them found on unofficial routes. The agency’s regional Ebola coordinator, Dr. Andrew Mbala, said responders need to focus on population movement as well as health facilities and isolation centres.

IOM said it maps gathering points such as markets, bus stations and places of worship, along with broader travel corridors, to guide where staff and resources are deployed. The article says teams have carried out 55 million screenings in the DRC and 11 neighbouring countries since the outbreak started. IOM also reported intercepting 258 bodies of Ebola victims, most of them moving through informal routes.

The organization said it is supporting surveillance at 57 displacement sites in the DRC, including 50 in health zones affected by the outbreak, and is helping affected and at-risk countries strengthen early detection and screening. The report also noted funding pressure, saying IOM needs $110 million for regional operations through March 2027 and is nearly $60 million short. Separately, UN peacekeepers evacuated three wounded civilians in Ituri Province, illustrating the broader security and health challenges in parts of eastern Congo.