The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has announced plans to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo to support health workers responding to the country’s latest Ebola outbreak.
Tedros made the announcement on Thursday, expressing confidence that the DRC would overcome the outbreak despite growing challenges caused by insecurity in the eastern region of the country.
According to the WHO’s latest figures as of May 24, the outbreak has resulted in 10 confirmed and 223 suspected deaths, with more than 1,000 confirmed and suspected cases recorded since the outbreak was declared in mid-May.
The WHO chief said he would join the organisation’s teams, partners and frontline health workers operating under the leadership of the Congolese government.
“Sixteen times, this country has defeated Ebola. The 17th will be no different. But we must act now, together,” Tedros said.
The WHO has repeatedly warned that ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, which has faced decades of armed violence, is complicating efforts to contain the disease.
Health authorities said the outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.
The virus was first detected in the northeastern Ituri province, where weak state presence and insecurity have hampered emergency response operations for years.
The WHO also warned that the outbreak may be significantly more widespread than current figures indicate, suggesting the virus could have circulated undetected before health officials confirmed the cases.
