During Current Outbreak, bioMérieux Delivers its Ebola Rapid Diagnostics Testing in Central Africa

This is the latest episode of our From Pathogen to Infectious Disease Diagnosis podcast, where we discuss the relationship between clinicians and laboratory professionals and detail the latest in diagnostics.

As public health officials work to contain the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, rapid and highly accurate diagnostics are critical to identifying cases, guiding patient care, and supporting outbreak control measures.

During a recent Contagion podcast, Chuck Cooper, MD, chief medical officer at bioMérieux, discussed the unique challenges posed by different Ebola virus species and how the company's molecular diagnostic platform is helping frontline healthcare workers respond more effectively.

Although the Ebola virus presents with similar clinical symptoms regardless of the infecting species, Cooper explained the challenges of these viruses as they are genetically distinct.

"Even though the four different strains of Ebola disease cause a very similar clinical syndrome, genetically these strains of Ebola are actually very different, and they're different enough that vaccines and therapeutics, and even diagnostics that are developed for one strain don't necessarily work for the other strains," Cooper said.

The diagnostic challenge is compounded by the fact that early Ebola symptoms—including fever, chills, and muscle aches—closely resemble those of malaria, dengue, and numerous other endemic infections. Without rapid testing, clinicians and public health officials face significant obstacles in implementing interventions such as contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine.

To aid in the ongoing Ebola outbreak, bioMérieux has sent containers of its Global Fever Special Pathogens Panel, a multiplex PCR assay, to Central African countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda.

Thus far, bioMérieux has delivered seven BIOFIRE TORCH 2 instruments and 480 tests to Africa, with additional instruments and thousands of tests in transit and expected to arrive in the coming days. Deployed across 10 laboratories, these shipments will support the diagnosis of approximately 1,600 patients, with additional deliveries planned. In total, the company’s public health response will serve up to 7,200 patients in the 3 African nations most impacted.

This multiplex PCR assay is capable of detecting 19 bacterial, viral, and protozoal pathogens from a single blood sample in approximately 50 minutes. The panel identifies all human-pathogenic Ebola species alongside other pathogens including Marburg virus, dengue, chikungunya, malaria, anthrax, plague, tularemia, leptospirosis, and leishmania.

Screening at US Airports

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 46 geographically diverse LRN laboratories can test using the Biofire Warrior Panel or the Global Fever Special Pathogens Panel. In addition, 13 Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers (RESPTC) in the US have internal diagnostic capacity using the Biofire Warrior Panel, Global Fever Special Pathogens Panel, or Biothreats-E.¹

Passengers arriving at select US airports from regions affected by the Ebola outbreak are subject to health screening upon entry into the country. Travelers with suspected Ebola cases are then transported to a nearby medical facility where the test can be performed. The BIOFIRE Global Fever Special Pathogens Panel is being utilized, and the airports receiving passengers traveling from Ebola affected areas are Hartsfield Jackson Airport in Atlanta, Washington Dulles International, JFK Airport in New York, and George W Bush Airport in Houston.²

Scaling Up Testing With African Countries

Designed specifically for use in challenging field environments, the assay features freeze-dried reagents that do not require refrigeration, making it suitable for deployment in regions with limited laboratory infrastructure or unstable electricity, which makes it ideal for some of the affected areas in Africa.

bioMérieux is working with the ministries of health in the affected African nations, as well as multiple nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to send tests in the areas that are affected.

"We're working really closely with the ministries of health of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as multiple NGOs that operate in that region, and the goal really is to find ways to move the tests and the test systems into the affected areas where they're needed most," Cooper said.

He said bioMérieux recently held a ceremony in Rwanda to commemorate the donation of diagnostic tests and test kits to support medical efforts, as well as personnel who will help deliver and sustain that training.

“We're really working hard to try to find ways to make sure that this testing capability is available in that part of the world where they're having such a huge crisis right now,” Cooper said.

Cooper added that maintaining relationships with public health agencies before outbreaks occur enables the company to rapidly deploy diagnostic capabilities when emerging infectious disease threats arise, reinforcing the importance of preparedness alongside innovation in global health response.

References
1. Ebola Disease Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. CDC. May 19, 2026. Accessed July 9, 2026.
https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/notices/han00530.html

2. Information for Travelers Returning from Ebola-Affected Areas. CDC. July 1, 2026. Accessed July 9, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/ebola/situation-summary/returning-travelers.html