WHO warns: Ebola outbreak is accelerating in Congo and Uganda, and the current response is insufficient

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on Monday that “the speed of the Ebola outbreak in both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is outpacing the capacity of current response efforts,” stressing that “the latest figures showed 220 people suspected to have died as a result of this outbreak.”

Ghebreyesus also explained in remarks delivered during an online African Union meeting dedicated to discussing the outbreak that “any delay in the early detection of cases means response teams will remain under intense pressure, which could lead to the epidemic worsening before health conditions improve.”

He noted that “the virus requires swift action from all concerned parties to curb its spread and safeguard the lives of local residents.”

He continued: “Tomorrow, Tuesday, I will travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the epicenter of the outbreak, accompanied by Chikwe Ihekweazu, the WHO official responsible for health emergencies, to assess the situation on the ground and strengthen containment efforts.”

In the same context, Ugandan authorities announced two new Ebola infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to seven, as Ghebreyesus warned that “countries neighboring the Democratic Republic of the Congo face a severe risk and must take urgent preventive measures to limit the spread of the virus, including strengthening health surveillance, early testing, and community awareness.”

He added: “The outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.”

He confirmed that “response efforts are facing additional challenges due to insecurity in the Ituri and North Kivu regions of Congo, along with the lack of approved vaccines for this strain, making control of the outbreak more complex.”

He concluded by emphasizing “the importance of international cooperation between health organizations and local governments to ensure a rapid response and the effectiveness of preventive measures,” stressing that time is a critical factor in limiting the spread of Ebola and protecting lives in the region.