Ebola Outbreak in Congo Complicated by Conflict and Insecurity, WHO Expresses Concern

Kinsasha, May 29: The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is proving to be “very complex.” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), stated that ongoing conflicts, insecurity, population displacement, food shortages, and distrust among the people are hampering efforts to control the disease.

Dr. Tedros spoke to reporters late Thursday upon arriving in Kinshasa, the capital of DRC. He emphasized that he is here to assure affected individuals that “they are not alone” and that the WHO stands fully ready to assist them.

He noted that WHO teams are already active in Bunia, the capital of the Ituri province. Dr. Tedros plans to visit the area on Friday to assess the situation firsthand.

He highlighted that conflict and insecurity are the biggest obstacles in the fight against this disease. Given the armed attacks in affected areas, he reiterated the call for a ceasefire.

When asked about travel restrictions imposed by some countries on travelers from DRC, he stated that the WHO does not recommend such measures. He explained that these actions might only slow the spread of the infection for a few days.

“The best approach is to strengthen prevention measures where the disease is originating and provide assistance to the people,” he said.

Dr. Tedros warned that travel restrictions could negatively impact public health. He cautioned that if a country shares disease information honestly and then faces sanctions, it may hesitate to share information in the future.

According to a report released by Congo’s health ministry on Wednesday, there have been over 1,000 suspected cases and 238 suspected deaths in this new outbreak. The disease continues to spread in the eastern provinces of the country.

This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in DRC. Laboratory tests have revealed the presence of the “Bundibugyo” strain of the virus, which is considered a rare type of Ebola.

On May 17, the WHO declared this outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. Following this, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also declared it a continental public health security emergency.