The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said 95% of the cases were identified on informal routes bypassing official checkpoints.
The outbreak has caused more than 10 400 confirmed infections and 5 103 deaths in the DRC since transmission began almost six months ago. “We need to think about the mobility of the population,” IOM Regional Ebola Coordinator Dr Andrew Mbala said.
Mbala said responses frequently concentrated on hospitals, treatment centres and isolation wards while overlooking how population movements could spread the virus.
The organisation maps markets, bus stations, places of worship and other locations where people gather. Movement corridors connecting affected areas with other communities are also monitored.
The information helps health authorities determine where screening teams and other resources should be deployed.
Teams have conducted 55 million screenings in the DRC and 11 neighbouring countries since the outbreak began.
The organisation said people transporting the bodies of Ebola victims frequently used informal routes. Authorities have intercepted 258 bodies so far. “It is important that we expand our response to cover all informal routes rather than concentrating only on formal ones,” Mbala said.
The agency also supports surveillance at 57 displacement sites in the DRC, including 50 in health zones affected by the outbreak.
However, funding shortages are threatening regional operations.
IOM requires $110 million to sustain the response through March 2027 but faces a shortfall of almost $60 million.
The agency warned that continuing transmission, population movement and inadequate financing could prevent the outbreak from being brought under control.
Separately, UN peacekeepers evacuated three civilians injured during a shooting along the Plaine Savo-Gali road in Ituri Province.
Two women and a man were transported from Bethlehem to Fataki Hospital, accompanied by a Médecins Sans Frontières nurse.
The UN Mission in the DRC said all three arrived safely for further treatment.
The mission said the evacuation formed part of continuing efforts to protect civilians and provide urgent medical access in insecure areas.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
