WHO Head ‘Deeply Concerned’ By Ebola Outbreak As Cases And Deaths Rise In DRC

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he is “deeply concerned” about the worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as both infections and deaths continue rising rapidly. Health officials confirmed that the outbreak has already killed more than 120 people, while hundreds of suspected and confirmed cases are being investigated across eastern parts of the country.

According to the WHO, the outbreak is mainly affecting Ituri province in eastern Congo, where health systems are already struggling because of violence, displacement, and poor medical infrastructure. Officials said the current outbreak is linked to the dangerous Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease, which has no fully approved vaccine or targeted treatment currently available.

The WHO warned that the situation is becoming more serious because infections are now spreading into larger urban areas, increasing fears of wider regional transmission. Health authorities also confirmed that cases have crossed into neighboring Uganda, where emergency surveillance and border health checks have been increased to prevent further spread.

Tedros said the speed of transmission and growing number of deaths are alarming international health officials. He stressed that urgent action is needed to stop the outbreak before it expands into a larger humanitarian crisis. The WHO chief also appealed for stronger international support, emergency funding, medical supplies, and additional healthcare workers to help contain the virus.

Health experts say Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, including blood, sweat, saliva, and contaminated materials. Symptoms usually begin with fever, weakness, headaches, and muscle pain before developing into severe vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, and organ failure in serious cases. The virus is considered one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world.

Several healthcare workers are also among the victims, raising concerns about infection control inside hospitals and clinics. WHO officials confirmed that doctors and nurses treating Ebola patients have become infected in some affected areas, highlighting shortages of protective equipment and medical resources.

Emergency response teams have now opened additional Ebola treatment centers in Congo while contact tracing operations continue across multiple districts. Authorities are working to identify people who may have been exposed to infected individuals and isolate suspected cases quickly to stop further transmission.

The outbreak has created fear across eastern Congo, where many communities already face conflict, poverty, and displacement. Aid organizations say misinformation and distrust toward authorities are making containment efforts more difficult. Some residents have reportedly avoided hospitals because of fear, increasing the risk of hidden infections spreading within communities.

International health agencies, including the WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are monitoring the outbreak closely because of concerns about cross-border movement and possible international exposure. Border screening and emergency health checks have been strengthened in several neighboring countries.

The WHO recently classified the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, a designation used only for the world’s most serious disease threats. Officials warned that without stronger containment measures, the number of cases and deaths could continue rising in the coming weeks.

This marks one of the most serious Ebola outbreaks in recent years and another major health challenge for the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has faced multiple Ebola emergencies over the past decades. Health experts say controlling the outbreak will depend on rapid medical response, public cooperation, safe burial practices, and stronger international coordination.