The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has expressed deep concern over the rapid spread of the Ebola Bundibugyo virus outbreak in Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The situation is exacerbated by ongoing insecurity, attacks on health facilities, and population movements, which are hindering efforts to trace contacts and isolate cases.
Tedros emphasized the challenges faced in building community trust and isolating the sick amidst the chaos of bombs falling in the region. The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, first identified in Uganda in 2007, has no approved vaccine or treatment, making containment efforts even more urgent.
According to reports from health agencies and partners, DRC has reported nearly 1,000 suspected Ebola cases and over 220 suspected deaths. However, only one death has been laboratory confirmed. In neighboring Uganda, health authorities have confirmed seven cases linked to the outbreak, including two healthcare workers and one death.
The outbreak, which initially centered in Ituri province, has now spread across 11 health zones, with cases also reported in North Kivu, including Butembo and Goma, as well as South Kivu. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been actively involved in responding to the crisis.
Health officials have noted that the virus is spreading through family clusters and health facilities, with infections linked to caregiving, family gatherings, and unsafe funeral practices. WHO has warned that the outbreak continues to spread geographically, with evidence of ongoing cross-border transmission.
Efforts to contain the outbreak are being carried out in one of the most volatile regions of eastern DRC, where conflict involving multiple armed groups, such as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), CODECO militias, and the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group, has long constrained humanitarian access. A report by the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO documented persistent violence across Ituri and North Kivu, including attacks on villages, health facilities, and displaced communities.
The conflict and violence in the region have worsened an already severe humanitarian crisis. Nearly 10 million people across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tanganyika are facing acute hunger between January and June 2026, according to the latest analysis by IPC, the UN-backed global food security monitor. At the national level, an estimated 26.5 million people in DRC are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity.
Tedros highlighted the intersection of hunger and disease, stating that people weakened by hunger are far more vulnerable to infections. Poor roads, damaged infrastructure, and limited access to essential services have further complicated the response to the Ebola outbreak.
The situation in DRC underscores the urgent need for coordinated international support to contain the spread of the Ebola virus, address the underlying humanitarian crisis, and ensure access to essential services for the affected population. The WHO, UNICEF, and other partners are working tirelessly to respond to the outbreak and mitigate its impact on the communities in the region.
