Spread of Ebola in DRC ‘outpacing’ response efforts, warns WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is spreading faster than response efforts can contain it, with neighboring countries facing significant risk. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting 220 suspected deaths so far and announcing plans to visit the DRC alongside WHO’s health emergencies executive director. The outbreak is complicated by violent attacks on treatment centers, particularly in Mongbwalu town, where health facilities have been targeted by residents demanding traditional burials for Ebola victims. In recent days, the Mongbwalu general referral hospital was attacked multiple times, resulting in the escape of numerous Ebola patients and the death of a critically ill patient attempting to flee. The attackers sought to retrieve bodies for burial, a practice that poses a high risk of further transmission due to traditional rituals involving direct contact with the deceased. Similar incidents occurred in Rwampara near Bunia, where a treatment center was set ablaze after authorities refused to release a victim’s body. These attacks have severely hindered containment efforts and highlight the challenges of balancing public health protocols with local customs. The outbreak, declared a “public health emergency of international concern” earlier this month, has resulted in over 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths in the DRC, with spillover into Uganda where seven confirmed cases have now been reported. Uganda’s recent cases include two health workers in the capital, Kampala, underscoring the risk to frontline responders. The Ebola strain involved has no approved treatment, intensifying the urgency for coordinated international action and community engagement to curb the epidemic. The WHO continues to scale up operations amid these challenges, urging neighboring countries to strengthen surveillance, preparedness, and response measures. The ongoing violence and community resistance underscore the complexity of managing Ebola outbreaks in conflict-affected regions, where mistrust and cultural practices can undermine public health interventions and exacerbate the spread of the disease.