Kasenyi, Democratic Republic of the Congo— Kasenyi, located on the western shores of Lake Albert in the Ituri Province of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a strategic crossing point at the country’s border with Uganda. Every day, people move between the two countries, fostering trade and community exchange, making this part of the Tchomia health zone—home for more than 94 000 people—particularly vulnerable to the spread of epidemic-prone diseases. In such a context, the speed of diagnosis can make all the difference in interrupting Ebola transmission and protecting both communities and health workers.
To this end, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda have strengthened diagnostic capacity in Kasenyi through the deployment of a mobile laboratory, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners. This joint action aims to bring Ebola disease diagnostic services closer to communities living in this border area and to accelerate the confirmation of suspected cases.
“The mobile laboratory was installed here because positive cases of Bundibugyo virus disease were recorded in the Tchomia health zone. Its deployment allows rapid confirmation of cases, supports cross-border surveillance and helps interrupt the chain of transmission,” explained Dr Olga Ntumba Tshitenge, laboratory focal person at WHO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This collaboration is part of the joint efforts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda to better address cross-border health risks. “Viruses do not recognize borders,” says Dr Tshitenge. According to her, the cooperation between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda facilitates information sharing and enables teams from both countries to better coordinate their interventions in the affected areas.
Before the installation of the mobile laboratory, samples collected in Kasenyi had to be transported to Bunia. Despite a relatively short distance of 55 kilometers, poor road conditions could stretch the journey to nearly three hours. With the time needed for analysis and transmission of results, confirming a suspected case could sometimes take up to five hours.
Since the deployment of the laboratory on 23 July 2026, this waiting time has been drastically reduced. “Today, analyses can be carried out directly in Kasenyi and results are available in around an hour,” explained Nelson Kashali, biologist and researcher at the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB), and supervisor of the Kasenyi mobile laboratory teams.
In just a few days of operation, the mobile laboratory has already analysed more than 20 samples. It is run by a Congolese team of nine laboratory professionals working alongside Ugandan counterparts to ensure rapid diagnosis of suspected cases.
Within this mobile unit, Rebecca Mave, medical biologist at the Tchomia General Reference Hospital, is responsible for receiving, decontaminating and preparing samples before analysis. Each step is carried out under strict biosafety protocols to ensure the reliability of results and the protection of laboratory teams.
“Each sample follows a rigorous process, from reception to analysis. Respecting each step is essential to guarantee reliable results and protect teams working in the laboratory,” she explains.
This proximity-based diagnostic capacity also improves patient care and public health interventions. For Lonu Ngbapeni Absalom, a community health worker in Kasenyi, faster results mean immediate action. “Since the establishment of this laboratory, we obtain results much more quickly. This allows us to manage cases without delay and act immediately when a result is confirmed,” he notes.
Absalom recalls the case of a woman whose death was initially attributed to complications from an abortion. Thanks to the laboratory, the sample was analysed the same day and confirmed as an Ebola infection. Teams were then able to swiftly implement public health measures, including caring for her children and decontaminating her home to reduce transmission risks.
As part of the response, WHO supports the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Preventive Care by providing equipment, reagents and consumables, training of teams, and continuous technical assistance. At the start of the outbreak, only two laboratories could confirm Ebola cases. Today, 18 laboratories can perform this diagnosis, enhancing the country’s ability to detect cases early and support the response.
For populations living at the Democratic Republic of the Congo-Uganda border, the mobile laboratory represents far more than an additional diagnostic capacity. By bringing Ebola disease diagnostic services closer to communities, it enables faster confirmation of suspected cases, accelerates patient care and strengthens family protection. This initiative illustrates how partnership between the two countries not only improves the current response to the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak but also bolsters preparedness for future health emergencies.
Credit: WHO Africa Region
