Available RPA Master Mixes
biotechrabbit offers RPA Master Mixes for DNA and RNA virus detection.
The Basic format supports endpoint detection such as LFA, while the Exo format enables real-time fluorescence readout.
Explore all RPA Master MixesEBOLA Outbreak Update | 2 September 2026
Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: why rapid detection matters
The ongoing outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease has become the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Behind every number are patients, families and health workers facing an exceptionally difficult public health emergency.
Public Health Emergency of International Concern WHO confirmed that the emergency remains ongoing following the second meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee in August 2026.
5,794 confirmed cases reported in the DRC
2,786 reported deaths in the DRC
60 affected health zones
6 / 26 provinces affected
WHO data for the Democratic Republic of the Congo as of 26 August 2026. Outbreak figures change as surveillance and reporting continue.
The current situation
A severe outbreak in a highly challenging setting
The outbreak was confirmed in May 2026 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. It is caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus, one of the orthoebolaviruses known to cause severe disease in humans. Transmission is continuing in the DRC, while Uganda and France completed their 42-day enhanced monitoring periods in August.
The response is complicated by insecurity, displacement, limited access to healthcare, highly mobile populations and pressure on laboratory and public health capacity. These conditions can delay the recognition of cases, interrupt contact follow-up and make it harder to reach affected communities.
Why early detection matters
Earlier answers can support faster action
1
Identify and isolate
Rapid recognition and testing can shorten the time between suspicion and appropriate isolation measures.
2
Begin supportive care
Timely testing can help patients reach appropriate care sooner, an important factor in reducing mortality.
3
Trace contacts
A confirmed result allows response teams to start contact tracing and monitoring without avoidable delay.
4
Limit further spread
Faster public health action can reduce opportunities for transmission in households, communities and healthcare facilities.
Safety remains fundamental. Specimens from suspected Ebola cases must be collected, transported and handled under appropriate biosafety procedures. Testing should be performed only by trained personnel within authorized diagnostic networks and according to current public health guidance.
Laboratory detection
Reliable confirmation is central to outbreak response
Ebola cannot be diagnosed from symptoms alone. WHO guidance emphasizes rapid laboratory diagnosis because early symptoms overlap with diseases such as malaria. Molecular methods, including reverse-transcription PCR, are used to detect viral RNA and support confirmation within an established testing algorithm.
Access to suitable laboratory infrastructure can be difficult in remote or resource-constrained settings. This creates a strong need for research into decentralized molecular workflows that are faster, robust and less dependent on complex thermal cycling equipment.
A result is only one part of a safe diagnostic pathway
- Appropriate patient assessment and case definition
- Safe specimen collection and transport
- Validated extraction and amplification procedures
- Positive, negative and internal controls
- Interpretation and reporting by authorized laboratories
- Confirmatory testing where required by national guidance
RPA for Rapid detection
Exploring rapid Isothermal Amplification and Lateral Flow readout
Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) amplifies nucleic-acid targets at a constant low temperature. Without repeated heating and cooling cycles, RPA can simplify instrumentation and shorten the amplification step. When combined with a Lateral Flow Assay (LFA), amplified targets can be visualized on a compact strip, supporting research into simple endpoint readouts.
37 – 42 °CConstant low-temperature amplification
10 – 20 minAmplification possible, assay-dependent
No cyclingNo thermocycler required for amplification
LyophilizedReady-to-use format for easier deployment
Research Use Only. The biotechrabbit RPA products and the Ebola target-sequence demonstration shown here are intended for research and assay development. They are not presented as an approved or clinically validated Ebola diagnostic test. Final assay performance, specificity, sensitivity and readout time depend on the complete assay design and must be established by the assay developer.
Developing a rapid molecular assay?
Explore biotechrabbit RPA reagents for isothermal amplification, lateral flow and fluorescence-based assay development.