The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is spreading faster than any previous epidemic of the disease and poses a risk of reaching additional countries, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Tuesday (Aug 18). Addressing an emergency meeting on the crisis, Tedros stated that the epidemic is "far from being under control" and noted that responders are still playing catch-up after the virus gained a significant head start. On Monday (Aug 17), the DRC reported that the outbreak, the 17th in the country's history, had become its deadliest, recording over 2,300 deaths out of nearly 5,000 cases. Although officially declared on May 15, the virus is believed to have been spreading undetected for several weeks prior.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ebola-outbreak-becomes-deadliest-in-dr-congo-s-history-1786979746847/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/ebola-outbreak-becomes-deadliest-in-dr-congo-s-history-1786979746847/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;The outbreak has impacted northern and eastern regions plagued by weak state presence, severe lack of health infrastructure, and decades of activity by numerous armed groups. The WHO emergency committee met for the second time since designating the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17, the agency's second-highest alert level.&nbsp;The WHO currently evaluates the public health risk as "very high" nationally within the DRC, "high" for neighbouring countries such as Uganda, and "low" for the remainder of Africa and globally. Cases have been documented across six DRC provinces, including areas near the South Sudan border, as well as in Uganda.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ebola-outbreak-explodes-in-dr-congo-death-toll-tops-2-000-across-five-provinces-1786617957184">Ebola Outbreak Explodes In DR Congo, Death Toll Tops 2,000 Across Five Provinces</a>&nbsp;Tedros reiterated that the risk of further national and international spread remains high due to the unprecedented speed of transmission. For comparison, the DRC's previous deadliest outbreak from 2018 to 2020 resulted in 2,299 deaths from 3,381 confirmed cases. The world's deadliest Ebola outbreak on record struck West Africa between 2013 and 2016, claiming over 11,300 lives, primarily across Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.

The World Health Organisation has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is far from being under control, as health officials struggle with unlinked cases and rapid transmission.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is spreading faster than any previous epidemic of the disease and poses a risk of reaching additional countries, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Tuesday (Aug 18). Addressing an emergency meeting on the crisis, Tedros stated that the epidemic is "far from being under control" and noted that responders are still playing catch-up after the virus gained a significant head start. On Monday (Aug 17), the DRC reported that the outbreak, the 17th in the country's history, had become its deadliest, recording over 2,300 deaths out of nearly 5,000 cases. Although officially declared on May 15, the virus is believed to have been spreading undetected for several weeks prior. https://www.wionews.com/videos/ebola-outbreak-becomes-deadliest-in-dr-congo-s-history-1786979746847/embed The outbreak has impacted northern and eastern regions plagued by weak state presence, severe lack of health infrastructure, and decades of activity by numerous armed groups. The WHO emergency committee met for the second time since designating the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17, the agency's second-highest alert level. The WHO currently evaluates the public health risk as "very high" nationally within the DRC, "high" for neighbouring countries such as Uganda, and "low" for the remainder of Africa and globally. Cases have been documented across six DRC provinces, including areas near the South Sudan border, as well as in Uganda. Also read: Ebola Outbreak Explodes In DR Congo, Death Toll Tops 2,000 Across Five Provinces Tedros reiterated that the risk of further national and international spread remains high due to the unprecedented speed of transmission. For comparison, the DRC's previous deadliest outbreak from 2018 to 2020 resulted in 2,299 deaths from 3,381 confirmed cases. The world's deadliest Ebola outbreak on record struck West Africa between 2013 and 2016, claiming over 11,300 lives, primarily across Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.

The World Health Organisation has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is far from being under control, as health officials struggle with unlinked cases and rapid transmission.

‘Far from under control’: WHO chief issues warning over DR Congo Ebola outbreak

The World Health Organisation has sounded the alarm over a dangerous convergence of disease and warfare in the Democratic Republic of Congo, warning that an active Ebola outbreak in the country's eastern Ituri province is rapidly spiralling beyond the control of health responders. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued an urgent appeal Wednesday (May 27), calling for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict-torn region, where ongoing fighting has created near-impossible conditions for medical teams working to contain the deadly virus.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ebola-dr-congo-has-been-bedevilled-by-the-silent-killer-since-1976-1779813977413/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/ebola-dr-congo-has-been-bedevilled-by-the-silent-killer-since-1976-1779813977413/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;"Eastern DRC now faces a catastrophic collision of disease and conflict," Tedros wrote on X, stressing that the outbreak was “outpacing the response.”&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Eastern <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DRC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DRC</a> now faces a catastrophic collision of disease and conflict with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ebola?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ebola</a> outbreak in Ituri province outpacing the response. The Ebola Bundibugyo virus has no approved vaccine nor treatment. Stopping this Ebola transmission depends entirely on humanitarian access.… <a href="https://t.co/FGnQYIq6CH">pic.twitter.com/FGnQYIq6CH</a>&mdash; Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/2059557343923167511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Ebola, one of the world's most feared infectious diseases, carries a high fatality rate and spreads through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected individuals. Controlling an outbreak demands rapid case detection, contact tracing, isolation of patients, and safe burial practices all of which require stable, accessible conditions on the ground. In a conflict zone, each of those pillars becomes extraordinarily difficult to maintain.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ebola-scare-in-india-as-ugandan-woman-develops-symptoms-in-bengaluru-what-we-know-1779854012445/amp">Ebola scare in India as Ugandan woman develops symptoms in Bengaluru: What we know</a>&nbsp;Ituri province has long been one of DRC's most volatile regions, plagued by decades of ethnic violence and armed group activity. Health workers operating in such environments face constant threats to their safety, restricted movement, and disrupted supply chains for critical medical equipment and vaccines. Communities living under the shadow of armed conflict are also less likely to seek care or cooperate with health teams, allowing transmission chains to go undetected and unchecked.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uganda-woman-isolated-in-bengaluru-tests-negative-for-ebola-1779866558281">Uganda woman isolated in Bengaluru tests negative for Ebola</a>&nbsp;The WHO chief's appeal underscores a grim reality that global health officials have confronted repeatedly in the DRC: disease outbreaks cannot be separated from the political and military contexts in which they occur. The country has battled more Ebola outbreaks than any other nation in the world, and experience has shown that insecurity remains the single greatest obstacle to an effective response.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/has-russia-developed-first-ever-vaccine-for-deadly-ebola-strain-behind-who-global-health-alert-that-killed-204-in-drc-1779851683958">Russia claims its Ebola vaccine may protect against Bundibugyo strain that has killed 204 in DRC? All you need to know</a>&nbsp;Without a ceasefire and guaranteed humanitarian access, experts warn the outbreak could expand further, threatening neighbouring communities and potentially crossing international borders, transforming a regional crisis into a far broader public health emergency.

WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns of a "catastrophic collision" of disease and conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo as the rapidly spreading Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak outpaces response efforts.

The World Health Organisation has sounded the alarm over a dangerous convergence of disease and warfare in the Democratic Republic of Congo, warning that an active Ebola outbreak in the country's eastern Ituri province is rapidly spiralling beyond the control of health responders. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued an urgent appeal Wednesday (May 27), calling for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict-torn region, where ongoing fighting has created near-impossible conditions for medical teams working to contain the deadly virus. https://www.wionews.com/videos/ebola-dr-congo-has-been-bedevilled-by-the-silent-killer-since-1976-1779813977413/embed "Eastern DRC now faces a catastrophic collision of disease and conflict," Tedros wrote on X, stressing that the outbreak was “outpacing the response.”

WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns of a "catastrophic collision" of disease and conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo as the rapidly spreading Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak outpaces response efforts.

WHO chief warns of ‘catastrophic collision’ of Ebola and conflict in DR Congo

Countries surrounding the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) face a serious threat from the rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak and must take urgent preventive measures, World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday.&nbsp;Addressing a virtual ministerial meeting on the outbreak, Tedros warned that the virus was spreading faster than containment efforts and said he would travel to the DRC on Tuesday as the country remained the centre of the crisis.&nbsp;“Countries bordering DRC are at especially high risk and should take immediate action,” Tedros said.&nbsp;Health officials said the disease, which spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, can trigger severe bleeding, organ failure and death in serious cases.&nbsp;Tedros described the situation as particularly difficult due to delays in detecting the outbreak and worsening security conditions in eastern Congo.&nbsp;“First, the delay in detecting the outbreak means that we are now playing catch-up with a very fast-moving epidemic. We are urgently scaling up operations, but at the moment, the epidemic is outpacing us,” he said.&nbsp;“Secondly, the eastern provinces of the DRC, where the outbreak was first detected in mid-May, are highly insecure, with intensified fighting in recent months, and there is also significant distrust of outside authorities among the local population,” Tedros added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-threatens-new-attacks-on-kyiv-urges-diplomats-and-foreigners-to-evacuate-1779724835582">Russia threatens new attacks on Kyiv, urges diplomats and foreigners to evacuate</a><h2>WHO says no approved vaccine exists for current Ebola strain</h2>The WHO chief further warned that there were currently no approved vaccines or treatments available for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola responsible for the latest outbreak.&nbsp;According to WHO figures, at least 10 confirmed deaths and 220 suspected deaths have been recorded in the DRC since mid-May. Authorities have also identified nearly 900 suspected infections since the outbreak was officially declared on May 15.&nbsp;The United Nations health agency said the actual spread of the virus could be significantly wider, with experts suspecting the outbreak may have circulated undetected for some time.&nbsp;Neighbouring Uganda has already reported one confirmed Ebola death and six confirmed infections, including two new cases announced on Monday.&nbsp;The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has also warned that 10 additional African countries, including Angola, Rwanda and Tanzania, remain at risk from the outbreak.&nbsp;Tedros said WHO was deploying financial aid, medical supplies and health workers to support Congolese authorities while accelerating clinical trials for potential treatments.“It will get worse before it gets better,” he said. “But we know this virus, and we know how to stop it.”

According to the WHO, since the Ebola outbreak was declared in the DRC on May 15, at least 10 confirmed deaths, 220 suspected fatalities and nearly 900 suspected infections have been reported.

Countries surrounding the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) face a serious threat from the rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak and must take urgent preventive measures, World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday. Addressing a virtual ministerial meeting on the outbreak, Tedros warned that the virus was spreading faster than containment efforts and said he would travel to the DRC on Tuesday as the country remained the centre of the crisis. “Countries bordering DRC are at especially high risk and should take immediate action,” Tedros said. Health officials said the disease, which spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, can trigger severe bleeding, organ failure and death in serious cases. Tedros described the situation as particularly difficult due to delays in detecting the outbreak and worsening security conditions in eastern Congo. “First, the delay in detecting the outbreak means that we are now playing catch-up with a very fast-moving epidemic. We are urgently scaling up operations, but at the moment, the epidemic is outpacing us,” he said. “Secondly, the eastern provinces of the DRC, where the outbreak was first detected in mid-May, are highly insecure, with intensified fighting in recent months, and there is also significant distrust of outside authorities among the local population,” Tedros added. Also Read: Russia threatens new attacks on Kyiv, urges diplomats and foreigners to evacuate WHO says no approved vaccine exists for current Ebola strain The WHO chief further warned that there were currently no approved vaccines or treatments available for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola responsible for the latest outbreak. According to WHO figures, at least 10 confirmed deaths and 220 suspected deaths have been recorded in the DRC since mid-May. Authorities have also identified nearly 900 suspected infections since the outbreak was officially declared on May 15. The United Nations health agency said the actual spread of the virus could be significantly wider, with experts suspecting the outbreak may have circulated undetected for some time. Neighbouring Uganda has already reported one confirmed Ebola death and six confirmed infections, including two new cases announced on Monday. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has also warned that 10 additional African countries, including Angola, Rwanda and Tanzania, remain at risk from the outbreak. Tedros said WHO was deploying financial aid, medical supplies and health workers to support Congolese authorities while accelerating clinical trials for potential treatments. “It will get worse before it gets better,” he said. “But we know this virus, and we know how to stop it.”

According to the WHO, since the Ebola outbreak was declared in the DRC on May 15, at least 10 confirmed deaths, 220 suspected fatalities and nearly 900 suspected infections have been reported.

'Epidemic is outpacing us': WHO chief says countries neighbouring DR Congo at 'high risk' from Ebola

Ebola outbreak in DR Congo raises global concern after an American tested positive. Know Ebola symptoms, spread, US travel rules, and Trump’s statement on Ebola

What is Ebola? Symptoms, Congo outbreak, US travel measures and Trump’s remarks

At least 100 people have reportedly died due to Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with more than 390 cases still suspected, said the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The current strain of Ebola is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there are no approved drugs or vaccines. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the outbreak an international emergency.&nbsp;There are also two confirmed cases and one death in Uganda, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-media-and-democrats-would-spin-even-iranian-surrender-as-us-defeat-1779123203379">Trump says media and Democrats would spin even Iranian surrender as US defeat</a>&nbsp;At least six Americans have been exposed to the Ebola virus during the outbreak in the DR Congo, sources told CBS News.&nbsp;One American is believed to have symptoms, while three others faced a high-risk contact or exposure. It is unclear whether any have been infected.&nbsp;The CDC said it was supporting the “safe withdrawal of a small number of Americans who are directly affected”, but did not confirm how many.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-s-fresh-offer-insufficient-for-a-deal-risks-resumption-of-war-senior-us-official-1779121624177">Iran’s fresh offer ‘insufficient’ for a deal, risks resumption of war: Senior US official</a>&nbsp;The US government is reportedly looking to arrange transport for the small group of Americans in DR Congo to a safe quarantine location, a source told health news site STAT. The group could be taken to a US military base in Germany, though this has not been confirmed.&nbsp;The public health agency said on Monday that the risk to the US was relatively low but said it would introduce a range of measures to prevent the disease from entering the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;It will monitor travellers arriving from affected areas and restrictions will be placed on entry of non-US passport holders if they have been in Uganda, DR Congo or South Sudan in the last 21 days.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-deploys-8-000-troops-fighter-jets-and-air-defense-system-to-saudi-arabia-under-defence-pact-while-playing-mediator-1779114709036">Pakistan deploys 8,000 troops, fighter jets and air defense system to Saudi Arabia under defence pact, also plays mediator</a>&nbsp;The CDC will work with airlines and other partners for contact tracing of passengers, besides increasing testing capacity and hospital readiness.&nbsp;The US has also issued a Level Four travel advisory, its most severe level, warning against travel to the DR Congo.&nbsp;The WHO has said that the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo’s eastern Ituri province is a public health emergency of international concern but does not meet the criteria of a pandemic.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistani-lashkar-terrorist-infiltrates-to-set-up-sleeper-cells-gets-hair-transplant-done-in-srinagar-1779029058588">Pakistani Lashkar terrorist infiltrates to set up sleeper cells, gets hair transplant done in Srinagar</a>&nbsp;More than 28,600 people were infected by Ebola during the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa, the largest outbreak of the virus since its discovery in 1976.&nbsp;The disease spread to a number of countries and killed 11,325 people.&nbsp;The WHO has advised DR Congo and Uganda to undertake cross-border screenings to avoid the virus spreading.&nbsp;Neighbouring Rwanda said it would be tightening screening along its border with DR Congo as a “precautionary measure”, while Nigeria said it was “closely monitoring the situation”.

The US government is reportedly looking to arrange transport for the small group of Americans in the DR Congo to a safe quarantine location, and they could be taken to a US military base in Germany. The CDC said that the risk to the US was relatively low. 

At least 100 people have reportedly died due to Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with more than 390 cases still suspected, said the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The current strain of Ebola is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there are no approved drugs or vaccines. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the outbreak an international emergency. There are also two confirmed cases and one death in Uganda, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Also Read: Trump says media and Democrats would spin even Iranian surrender as US defeat At least six Americans have been exposed to the Ebola virus during the outbreak in the DR Congo, sources told CBS News. One American is believed to have symptoms, while three others faced a high-risk contact or exposure. It is unclear whether any have been infected. The CDC said it was supporting the “safe withdrawal of a small number of Americans who are directly affected”, but did not confirm how many. Also Read: Iran’s fresh offer ‘insufficient’ for a deal, risks resumption of war: Senior US official The US government is reportedly looking to arrange transport for the small group of Americans in DR Congo to a safe quarantine location, a source told health news site STAT. The group could be taken to a US military base in Germany, though this has not been confirmed. The public health agency said on Monday that the risk to the US was relatively low but said it would introduce a range of measures to prevent the disease from entering the country. It will monitor travellers arriving from affected areas and restrictions will be placed on entry of non-US passport holders if they have been in Uganda, DR Congo or South Sudan in the last 21 days. Also Read: Pakistan deploys 8,000 troops, fighter jets and air defense system to Saudi Arabia under defence pact, also plays mediator The CDC will work with airlines and other partners for contact tracing of passengers, besides increasing testing capacity and hospital readiness. The US has also issued a Level Four travel advisory, its most severe level, warning against travel to the DR Congo. The WHO has said that the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo’s eastern Ituri province is a public health emergency of international concern but does not meet the criteria of a pandemic. Also Read: Pakistani Lashkar terrorist infiltrates to set up sleeper cells, gets hair transplant done in Srinagar More than 28,600 people were infected by Ebola during the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa, the largest outbreak of the virus since its discovery in 1976. The disease spread to a number of countries and killed 11,325 people. The WHO has advised DR Congo and Uganda to undertake cross-border screenings to avoid the virus spreading. Neighbouring Rwanda said it would be tightening screening along its border with DR Congo as a “precautionary measure”, while Nigeria said it was “closely monitoring the situation”.

The US government is reportedly looking to arrange transport for the small group of Americans in the DR Congo to a safe quarantine location, and they could be taken to a US military base in Germany. The CDC said that the risk to the US was relatively low.&nbsp;

At least 100 die in DR Congo due to Ebola outbreak, six Americans exposed; CDC takes steps to prevent spread

World Health Organization officials give an update on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo via videolink. Watch the full video to know more.

W.H.O issues Ebola outbreak warning