WHO Director Pledges Support as Congo Battles Deadly Ebola Crisis

NEW YORK: (Web Desk) – World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has pledged to do “everything in my power” to help contain the deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo as he travelled to the African nation on Thursday.

In a message addressed to the Congolese people and shared on X, Tedros assured affected communities that they were not alone in the fight against the disease.

“Together, we will overcome this outbreak,” he said while confirming he was on his way to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to the latest WHO figures released up to May 24, the outbreak has caused 10 confirmed deaths and 223 suspected deaths since it was officially declared on May 15. Health authorities have recorded more than 1,000 confirmed and suspected Ebola cases so far.

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Tedros said the outbreak is currently affecting Ituri province the most, with over 90 percent of infections reported in the northeastern region. Additional cases have also been detected in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.

He acknowledged the difficult conditions already facing residents in the affected areas, including insecurity, hunger, malaria, and ongoing conflict.

“I know how frightening that is, and I know that the people of Ituri are bearing a burden that is not easy to carry,” he said.

The WHO chief stressed that the response would rely not only on medical expertise but also on the resilience and strength of local communities already accustomed to surviving multiple crises.

Tedros also warned that decades of armed conflict and instability in eastern Congo are making efforts to contain the outbreak increasingly difficult.

Health experts say the current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment available.

The WHO has further cautioned that the actual spread of the virus is likely much wider than officially reported, suggesting the disease may have circulated undetected before the outbreak was formally identified.