WHO Chief Says Ebola Outbreak in Congo Is 'Spreading Rapidly' and Upgrades Risk Assessment
WHO said the Bundibugyo strain has spread for months, with 51 confirmed cases, nearly 600 suspected cases and no approved vaccine or treatment.
- On Friday, May 22, 2026, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the World Health Organization is revising the Ebola risk assessment within Congo to "very high," citing the outbreak is "spreading rapidly."
- Driven by the Bundi Bujo strain, the epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths, though only 82 infections are officially confirmed.
- International aid efforts include $60 million from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund and a $23 million U.S. pledge to establish 50 treatment clinics and dispatch 17 tons of lab equipment.
- Ugandan authorities report the situation in their country remains "stable," with two confirmed cases linked to travel from Congo and one death recorded.
- Officials note it could take 6 to 9 months to develop a specific vaccine, while U.S. Health and Human Services coordinates experimental treatments for Americans, including one patient currently receiving care in Berlin.
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“The epidemic is spreading rapidly,” warns the World Health Organization. The situation is exacerbated by the civil war. The health response is struggling to get organized and has led to scenes of chaos in Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak. Source link: https://www.liberation.fr/international/afrique/virus-ebola-en-rdc-le-risque-pour-la-sante-publique-est-maximal-alerte-loms-20260522_YNTQTV5ZQ5HHBPUNJUJE3GB77E/ Author: LIBERATION, AF…
Ebola risk now at highest level in DR Congo, says WHO
The risk from the deadly Ebola outbreak has been raised to the highest level for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the World Health Organisation (WHO) said Friday, as the toll continues to rise. The WHO upgraded its risk assessment level from high to very high for the DRC, while keeping the regional risk level at high and the global risk level at low. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the situation was “deeply worrisome”. He said t…
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the health risk from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo from high to very high. The risk of Ebola spreading globally remains low.
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