WHO Chief Visits Epicentre Of Ebola Outbreak In DR Congo, Cases Over 1,000: Updates

Last Updated:May 30, 2026, 17:46 IST

WHO chief Tedros visits eastern DRC as a fast growing Ebola outbreak spreads to Uganda, with over 1,000 suspected cases, 246 deaths and conflict hampering the response.

World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived on Saturday in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the epicentre of a rapidly growing Ebola outbreak that has already claimed hundreds of lives and raised fears of a wider regional health emergency.

Tedros landed in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, where health authorities are battling one of the most severe Ebola outbreaks recorded in recent years.

Speaking to reporters after his arrival, the WHO chief said international organisations were supporting the Congolese government’s response efforts but stressed that local communities would play a crucial role in containing the virus.

“We are here to discuss with the community, to see how the response is running and if there are challenges to help," Tedros said.

More Than 1,000 Suspected Cases

The outbreak was officially declared on May 15, but health officials believe the virus may have been spreading undetected for weeks before authorities identified it.

According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the DRC has recorded at least 1,077 suspected Ebola cases and 246 deaths since the outbreak began.

The WHO has warned that the true scale of infections could be significantly higher because many remote areas lack sufficient testing facilities and healthcare infrastructure.

The outbreak has spread across three eastern provinces of the country and has already crossed borders into neighbouring Uganda.

Uganda Reports Ebola Cases

Uganda has confirmed nine Ebola infections, including one death, prompting authorities to tighten border controls and introduce a 21-day quarantine requirement for travellers arriving from the DRC.

Health officials, however, reported a rare positive development this week when the first confirmed Ebola patient in Uganda recovered and was discharged after testing negative twice.

Conflict Complicates Response

Containing the outbreak has become especially difficult because many affected regions are plagued by armed conflict and insecurity.

Large parts of eastern Congo remain affected by violence involving multiple armed groups, including the Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), local militias and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group.

Years of conflict have displaced millions of people, forcing many families into overcrowded camps where sanitation facilities are poor and disease can spread rapidly.

Nearly one million displaced people are currently living in Ituri province alone.

Residents fear that an Ebola outbreak inside the camps could have devastating consequences.

“If Ebola comes, we’ll be wiped out as we’re packed like sardines," one displaced resident told AFP.

Fastest-Growing Ebola Outbreak In Years

Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has described the current outbreak as unprecedented in its early growth.

The organisation said it had never seen an Ebola epidemic record so many cases within such a short period after being officially declared.

MSF also warned that the number of medical experts deployed to the region remains insufficient given the scale of the emergency.

No Approved Vaccine Yet

The current outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

However, Africa CDC officials have expressed optimism that a vaccine candidate could be ready before the end of the year.

Ebola is transmitted through close contact with infected bodily fluids and causes severe haemorrhagic fever.

The virus has killed more than 15,000 people across Africa over the past five decades.

The deadliest Ebola outbreak in Congolese history occurred between 2018 and 2020, when nearly 2,300 people died.

With cases continuing to rise and conflict limiting access to affected communities, health officials fear the current outbreak could become one of the region’s most challenging public health crises in years.

News world WHO Chief Visits Epicentre Of Ebola Outbreak In DR Congo, Cases Over 1,000: Updates

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