The World Health Organization has raised the Ebola risk level in the Democratic Republic of Congo to its highest category, warning that the outbreak is spreading rapidly and remains deeply concerning.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the situation as “deeply worrisome,” revealing that nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths have been recorded in the country.
According to the WHO, 82 cases have so far been officially confirmed in the DRC, with seven confirmed deaths, while additional cases linked to cross-border travel have also been reported in Uganda.
The UN health agency maintained the regional risk level at “high” and the global risk level at “low,” noting that violence and insecurity in affected communities are complicating emergency response efforts.
Health officials said there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola responsible for the outbreak. However, clinical trials involving monoclonal antibodies and antiviral treatments are being considered as part of efforts to contain the disease.
The WHO also disclosed that international medical experts have been deployed to support local response teams in the DRC.
Meanwhile, tensions have escalated in some affected communities, with reports that angry residents and rioters attacked and burnt isolation tents at a hospital in Ituri province after disputes over the burial of suspected Ebola victims.
Authorities said mistrust, misinformation, and resistance to health protocols are complicating efforts to contain the deadly virus, which spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids.
The WHO has continued to urge communities to cooperate with health workers, warning that unsafe burial practices and resistance to medical intervention could worsen the outbreak.
