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World Health Organisation (WHO) Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said he is travelling to the Democratic Republic of Congo to support efforts against a worsening Ebola outbreak.
According to the latest data up to May 24, the WHO has recorded 10 confirmed deaths and 223 suspected deaths linked to the outbreak in the country since it was declared in mid-May, out of more than 1,000 confirmed and suspected cases.
Ghebreyesus said insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, an area long affected by conflict, was making containment efforts more difficult.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he stated that he was on his way to the country and that Ebola had returned, with the worst impact being felt in Ituri province.
On my way to #DRC.
Ebola is back. Ituri province is bearing the brunt. 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.
16 times, this country… pic.twitter.com/Bjq0WZhQvP
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) May 28, 2026
He added that he would meet WHO teams, partners and frontline health workers, working alongside the Congolese government, and expressed confidence that the country could overcome the outbreak.
Ghebreyesus also noted that the DRC had previously defeated Ebola 16 times, saying the current outbreak could also be contained if urgent action was taken.
“On my way to DRC. Ebola is back. Ituri province is bearing the brunt,” he said.
“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.”
Health officials say there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain responsible for the outbreak.
The WHO has warned that the true scale of infections may be higher than reported, as the virus may have been circulating undetected for some time, particularly in remote and insecure parts of Ituri province.
