The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has visited the Democratic Republic of Congo amid growing concerns over a rare Ebola outbreak that health officials say is spreading faster than efforts to contain it.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in Kinshasa and urged health workers and local communities to work together to halt the spread of the disease, describing the outbreak as “very complex” but still controllable.
According to the WHO, Congo has recorded 125 confirmed Ebola cases and 17 confirmed deaths, while authorities are also investigating more than 900 suspected infections. Neighboring Uganda has reported nine confirmed cases and one death linked to the outbreak.
Health officials say containment has been hampered by delays in detecting the outbreak, which may have circulated for weeks before being identified in mid-May. Ongoing armed conflict, large-scale displacement and food insecurity in eastern Congo have further complicated response efforts.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. Despite the challenges, health authorities reported a small breakthrough this week after a confirmed Ebola patient recovered and was discharged from hospital. Several additional patients are also expected to recover.
International assistance has begun reaching affected areas, with medical supplies from the European Union arriving in Ituri province and the United States announcing additional funding for the response. Hospitals in the outbreak zone have expanded staffing, strengthened infection-control measures and received new medical equipment, though aid agencies warn that significant gaps remain.
Health workers continue to face security threats and community resistance, particularly over strict burial procedures that conflict with local customs. Several health facilities have been attacked in recent weeks, while violence by armed groups has further disrupted emergency operations.
The outbreak has also spread beyond Ituri into the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, raising concerns about wider regional transmission. WHO officials have discouraged countries from imposing blanket travel bans, arguing that targeted screening and surveillance measures are more effective in controlling the disease.
African health authorities say efforts are underway to develop both a vaccine and treatment for the Bundibugyo strain by the end of the year as the region races to contain one of its most challenging Ebola outbreaks in recent years.
