WHO chief heads to ‘hardest hit’ Ituri as DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak spreads

Friday, May 29, 2026

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is visiting Ituri province in the DRC to support local efforts combating the region's 17th Ebola outbreak, which has confirmed at least 121 cases and involves the less-common Bundibugyo strain without approved vaccines. The visit highlights the urgent need for enhanced medical aid amid challenges like protective equipment shortages, community resistance, and security risks, while international assistance ramps up and vaccine development targets approval by 2026.

The World Health Organization’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is traveling to Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the area most severely impacted by the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak. The outbreak, which began in the eastern region, has prompted urgent efforts by authorities to contain the virus.

In a statement posted on social media, Tedros expressed solidarity with local health workers, describing them as the “backbone of this response” and assuring them they are not alone in the fight. He will visit Bunia, the capital of Ituri, to meet with local leaders, engage with health personnel, and offer direct support.

The outbreak has so far resulted in 121 confirmed cases and 17 confirmed deaths, according to DRC government figures. These numbers are believed to underestimate the true scale, with additional reports of 246 suspected deaths and more than 1,000 suspected cases. Public health officials are intensifying efforts to halt further spread in this volatile region.

Unlike previous outbreaks in the DRC, which were predominantly caused by the Ebola Zaire strain and for which vaccines and treatments exist, this current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain. There are currently no approved vaccines or therapeutics available for this variant. Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said that development of vaccines and treatments is underway, aiming to have medically approved options by the end of 2026.

Meanwhile, international aid is arriving to support the response in Ituri. On Thursday, a cargo plane carrying protective equipment such as masks, gloves, boots, and medications arrived in Bunia, donated by the European Union. Additional shipments are scheduled to be delivered incrementally over the next week, according to Jerome Kouachi, head of emergency operations at UNICEF Congo.

Health workers on the ground have faced significant challenges, including shortages of essential protective gear. Some have reportedly been forced to use expired masks while treating suspected Ebola patients. Their work is further complicated by community resistance to strict sanitary procedures surrounding victim handling and by insecurity due to the presence of armed groups in the area. These factors have heightened the risks and obstacles for those leading the outbreak response.