May 31, 2026
WHO chief visits eastern DR Congo as Ebola outbreak worsensEbola outbreak worsens
The head of the World Health Organization visited Bunia in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday as officials tried to slow a fast-moving Ebola outbreak.
The virus has spread faster than the response in Ituri province, and the visit matters because health workers are urging more funding, community trust, and safer burial practices to contain it.
WHO and health officials
The World Health Organization says the outbreak can still be contained if surveillance, testing, contact tracing, isolation, and community engagement are scaled up quickly. Officials are also pressing residents to seek treatment early and follow safe burial practices, which are critical in Ebola control.
Local community focus
Health teams are asking local leaders and residents to take a central role in the response, since mistrust and delays can let transmission continue. The message is that medical tools work best when communities accept them and help identify cases early.
- DR Congo has experienced multiple Ebola outbreaks since the virus was first recognized there.
- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the first African to lead the World Health Organization.
- Ebola outbreaks often strain rural health systems more than hospitals in major cities.
