The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is spreading at an unprecedented rate, with more than 2,000 confirmed cases and 796 deaths recorded within just two months.
Speaking during a press briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak has become the third-largest Ebola epidemic ever recorded. He noted that the current outbreak surpassed 2,000 confirmed cases in only two months, compared to the country’s 2018–2020 Ebola outbreak, which took more than 10 months to reach the same milestone.
“In the past month, it has expanded faster than any previous outbreak,” Tedros said.
The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15 after several deaths were reported in the conflict-hit northeastern province of Ituri. Since then, confirmed infections have spread to five provinces across the country, with cases also reported in neighbouring Uganda.
The outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a rare variant for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Although health authorities have stepped up response efforts, Tedros said major gaps remain in surveillance and case detection.
“More than 80% of new cases are being detected outside known contact lists, showing that transmission chains are still being missed,” he said.
He also highlighted delayed access to healthcare as a major factor behind the rising death toll.
“About two-thirds of deaths are occurring in communities among people who never received care in a health facility,” Tedros added.
According to the WHO chief, insecurity in the affected areas remains one of the biggest obstacles to containing the outbreak, as ongoing armed conflict continues to disrupt disease control efforts.
He further disclosed that an Ebola treatment centre in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, came under attack on Wednesday, raising concerns about the safety of healthcare workers and the continuity of emergency response operations.
Ebola is a highly infectious viral disease that spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materials. Common symptoms include fever, severe weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea, and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding. Without prompt medical treatment, the disease can be fatal.
