The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised alarm over the worsening Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), warning that ongoing conflict in the region is severely hampering efforts to contain the disease.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the situation in Ituri Province as a “catastrophic collision of disease and conflict,” noting that insecurity and attacks on health facilities are undermining emergency response operations.
According to the WHO, the DRC has recorded 10 confirmed and 223 suspected Ebola-related deaths since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, with more than 1,000 additional suspected cases reported.
The organisation also warned that the true spread of the virus may be far greater than current figures indicate, as the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola likely circulated undetected for some time before confirmation.
Neighbouring Uganda, which has already recorded seven cases linked to the outbreak, announced the immediate closure of its border with the DRC and imposed a 21-day quarantine for all arrivals from the affected country.
Tedros stressed that continued violence, mass displacement, and attacks on medical facilities are making it nearly impossible for health workers to track infections, isolate cases, and gain the trust of affected communities.
“We cannot build community trust or isolate the sick while bombs are falling,” the WHO chief stated, while calling on all parties involved in the conflict to agree to an immediate ceasefire to support containment efforts.
The outbreak marks the DRC’s 17th recorded Ebola outbreak, with no approved vaccine or treatment currently available for the Bundibugyo strain.
