The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, arrived in Bunia, eastern Congo, on Saturday to assess response efforts against a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak that has overwhelmed local health systems despite increased international aid and medical resources.
The outbreak, centered in Ituri province, involves the Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola, which currently has no approved treatment or vaccine. Health authorities have documented 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths in Congo, while neighboring Uganda has confirmed nine cases and one death, according to the Ugandan ministry of health.
During his visit, Tedros is scheduled to inspect treatment facilities and meet with local officials, healthcare workers, and families affected by the outbreak. Speaking to reporters on Friday, he emphasized the importance of addressing the disease at its epicenter while providing comprehensive support to combat its spread.
“The best way to address this is to provide all the necessary support to fight the disease at its epicenter and to continue offering every assistance needed,” Tedros stated after meeting with Congo’s Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka.
International aid has begun arriving in the affected region. The European Union delivered medical supplies to Ituri on Thursday, with additional shipments planned over the following eight days. The United States announced $80 million in supplementary assistance, increasing its total commitment to more than $112 million.
Despite these efforts, medical organizations warn that the response has failed to match the outbreak’s unprecedented speed. Dr. Alan Gonzalez, deputy director of operations for Doctors Without Borders, noted that no previous Ebola outbreak has recorded such high case numbers so quickly after its declaration. The organization has called for immediate expansion of testing capabilities, faster deployment of aid workers, and sustained access for medical supplies.
Treatment centers at Bunia’s Rwampara and General hospitals have shown improved organization, with additional staff, protective equipment, and medical supplies now available. However, patients continue arriving continuously, straining the enhanced capacity.
Security challenges have complicated response efforts. Health workers face threats from local residents angered by medical protocols for handling victims’ bodies, which conflict with traditional burial practices. At least three attacks against health centers have been reported. Additionally, the presence of armed groups, including the Allied Democratic Force and ethnic militias in Ituri, as well as the M23 rebel group in North and South Kivu provinces, has restricted access to affected areas.
The outbreak has spread beyond Ituri to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. The M23 rebel group, which controls several key cities including Goma and Bukavu, has reported two cases in areas under its control.
Regional responses have included border closures by Uganda and Rwanda. The Trump administration has banned entry to the United States for non-U.S. passport holders who recently visited Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan.
Tedros criticized these measures on Friday, describing border closures and travel bans as ineffective in preventing the outbreak’s spread. He argued that such actions discourage transparency and urged countries to reconsider their policies, praising Congo for reporting the situation openly.
“Closing borders, as some countries have done, only discourages transparency. The Democratic Republic of Congo is reporting the situation openly and transparently,” he stated.
The current outbreak represents another significant health crisis for Congo, which has faced multiple Ebola outbreaks in recent decades. While expressing confidence in the country’s ability to control the situation based on past experience, health officials acknowledge the exceptional challenges posed by this outbreak’s rapid spread and the complex security environment in eastern Congo.
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