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WHO chief visits Ebola epicenter in eastern DR Congo
WHO chief visits Ebola epicenter in eastern DR Congo
Darko Janjevic | Saim Dušan Inayatullah with AFP, AP05/30/2026May 30, 2026Addressing the public from the epicenter of the DRC Ebola outbreak, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged residents to stay safe during burials of Ebola victims and called on infected people to seek care early.
https://p.dw.com/p/5EZcXWhat you need to know about the Ebola outbreak
- The epicenter of the Ebola outbreak is in Ituri province in eastern DR Congo
- Ebola has also been detected in other parts of eastern DR Congo and in Uganda
- DR Congo has recorded at least 1,077 suspected Ebola cases and 246 deaths
- The outbreak was declared on May 15
- Health officials warn that the spread of the virus could be much larger
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Saturday urged people in the Democratic Republic of Congo to take precautions during burials, warning the public that the bodies of Ebola victims are highly contagious.
Tedros made the remarks during a visit to the epicenter of a severe Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
"I understand how painful it is to lose someone and how much it means to honor them properly," the Ethiopian chief of the UN's health agency said, referring to the local traditions of relatives washing and handling the body without protective equipment.
"While we grieve for those we have lost, we must do everything we can so that we do not lose another," he added.
Tedros also repeated the WHO's warning that the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus,which is driving the current DR Congo outbreak, has no approved vaccines or treatments. He urged the infected to seek medical care for issues such as rehydration and pain management, but also to ensure isolation.
"Seeking care early makes a real difference," Tedros said.
WHO chief urges Ebola vigilance, early treatment in DR Congo
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DR Congo: 'We know what we are doing'
In Ituri, Tedros met DR Congo Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba, who has spent days in the affected area. Previously, the UN agency chief met senior Congolese officials in the country's capital, Kinshasa.
At a press conference with Tedros, the DRC health minister said his country had experience dealing with Ebola, and called on neighboring countries to keep their borders open.
"We defeated Ebola last year," Mulamba said, referring to a smaller outbreak of the virus.
"We tell you, trust us, we know what we are doing."
Besides Ituri, Ebola cases have also been detected in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, as well as in neighboring Uganda.
What is the state of the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda?
DR Congo has registered at least 1,077 suspected cases of Ebola since the outbreak was declared on May 15, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The disease is believed to have led to the deaths of at least 246 people, according to the latest data from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The outbreak is centered in the country's northeast, in a war-torn area that borders South Sudan and Uganda, which closed its border this week. At least nine cases have been confirmed there, and one death has been reported in the capital, Kampala.
Ebola spreads between people through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated objects.
It can take up to 21 days for symptoms to show, according to the WHO, which has warned that the reach of the outbreak is likely to be much wider.
DR Congo's response to the outbreak has been hampered by cuts to international development aid, and the WHO's own funds have been limited after the United States withdrew from the body in January.
Eastern DR Congo has also been grappling with armed conflict for three decades.
Fighting between Kinshasa's forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 militia reignited in 2022, with the rebels taking large swathes of eastern DR Congo, including major cities in North and South Kivu.
While DR Congo reached a US-brokered peace deal with the armed group in 2025, fighting has continued.
Rumors and misinformation fuel Ebola crisis in DR Congo
What else did Tedros say about the outbreak in Ituri and eastern Congo?
The WHO chief emphasized the importance of international cooperation with Congolese authorities and local communities.
"The international community is involved under the leadership of the government of DRC — and at the same time community ownership is important," Tedros told reporters earlier on Saturday.
"That's why we are here to discuss with the community, to see how the response is running and if there are challenges to help."
Tedros also urged countries to reconsider border control measures introduced to tackle the outbreak.
"Closing borders, as some countries have done, only discourages transparency. The Democratic Republic of Congo is reporting the situation openly and transparently," he said.
WHO, DRC officials appeal to Congolese as Ebola spreads
Edited by: Karl Sexton
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