WHO Raises Alarm as Ebola Cases Rise in DR Congo, Uganda

The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has raised concerns over the escalating Ebola outbreak in parts of Central Africa, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

In an update shared on his X account, Tedros said confirmed cases of the Ebola Bundibugyo virus have continued to rise, with health authorities facing increasing pressure to contain the spread.

According to him, 101 confirmed cases have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including 10 confirmed deaths, while over 900 suspected cases and about 220 suspected deaths are also being investigated.

He added that Uganda has reported additional confirmed infections among healthcare workers, bringing the country’s total to seven confirmed cases, including one death.

Tedros warned that the situation remains fluid and could worsen in the coming weeks as surveillance and testing expand.

“We are continuing to scale up the response with our partners, and we expect more cases to be identified in the coming days and weeks,” he stated.

He stressed that rapid detection, contact tracing, and early treatment remain critical to controlling the outbreak and preventing further transmission.

Health authorities and international partners are currently intensifying response measures, including surveillance, treatment support, and coordination across affected regions.

The outbreak has raised concern due to the rarity of the Bundibugyo strain and the absence of widely available vaccines specifically targeting it, making containment efforts more challenging.