Adedokun Waliyu 
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said he is travelling to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) to support health workers battling a deadly Ebola outbreak.
According to the latest WHO figures up to May 24, there have been 10 confirmed Ebola deaths and 223 suspected deaths in DR Congo since the outbreak was declared in mid-May. More than 1,000 confirmed and suspected cases have also been recorded.
Tedros expressed concern that insecurity in eastern DR Congo is making it very difficult to contain the outbreak. The region has suffered from conflict and violence for many years.
“On my way to DRC. Ebola is back. Ituri province is bearing the brunt,” Tedros wrote on X.
“I will be on the ground with our WHO teams, partners, and the extraordinary health workers who have never stopped fighting, all working under the leadership of the government of DRC.
“Sixteen times, this country has defeated Ebola. The 17th will be no different. But we must act now, together.”
The current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.
The outbreak was first detected in Ituri province in northeastern DR Congo, where government services have remained weak for decades.
The WHO warned that the actual spread of the disease may be much wider than the number of confirmed and suspected cases already reported, as the virus may have been spreading unnoticed for some time.
Health workers continue to face serious challenges in controlling the outbreak due to insecurity, limited resources, and difficult access to affected communities.
