Lessons Learned from the 13th Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in the Drc: Experience from Beni During Response Interventions with Support from the Usaid Infectious Disease Detection, Diagnosis, and Surveillance Project
Rodrigue Nakasala*, Nancy Mundeke Mbutamuntu and Joel Bonyoma
ABSTRACT
Background: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reported its 13th Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak on October 8, 2021, in the Beni Health Zone, North Kivu Province. Occurring five months after the 12th outbreak, it emerged amid security instability, healthcare worker strikes, and prolonged humanitarian crises. Supervision and technical support missions were deployed to strengthen the response and resilience of the health system.
Methods:
Interventions focused on three main areas:
• Logistical support: secure sample transport and distribution of waste bins and bags to laboratories in Beni, Mangina, and Butembo;
• Safe waste management: collection and incineration in Goma of 5,450 GeneXpert cartridges (3,700 used, 1,750 expired) in a high-capacity incinerator (>1200 °C);
• Technical support: field supervision visits, harmonization of biological data, reinforcement of biosafety practices, and discussions on patient and sample flow at the Beni Ebola Treatment Center (ETC).
Results: Between October and November 2021, 620 samples were tested by RT-PCR, of which 18 were positive (8 new confirmed cases). Supervision improved biomedical waste management, ensured secure incineration of GeneXpert cartridges, and strengthened biosafety, reducing environmental and health risks.
Conclusion: Laboratory supervision, combined with targeted logistical support and secure waste management, is essential for an effective Ebola response. Security instability limited intervention effectiveness, emphasizing the need to integrate adapted logistical and security measures into future outbreak planning to reinforce health system resilience.
