WHO Chief Visits DR Congo's Ebola Epicenter as Cases Nearly Double; Calls for Community Leadership and More Funding
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited the Ebola-stricken city of Bunia on Saturday as confirmed cases nearly doubled in two days to 225, with over 1,000 suspected cases reported. The outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo virus has prompted urgent calls for community involvement and more international funding.
Rapidly worsening outbreak
The number of confirmed Ebola infections in eastern DR Congo has nearly doubled in two days, from 121 to 225 by May 29, with more than 1,000 suspected cases and over 220 suspected deaths recorded. The outbreak, caused by the rare and severe Bundibugyo virus for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment, has been declared a global health emergency by the WHO. Neighboring Uganda has confirmed nine cases and one death from an imported infection, raising fears of cross-border spread.
Never before has an Ebola outbreak recorded so many cases so soon after its declaration.
Tedros on the ground
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in the provincial capital Bunia on Saturday after meeting with Prime Minister Judith Suminwa in Kinshasa on Friday. He called on local communities to lead the fight and stressed the need for safe burial practices to avoid further transmission.
The communities understand the problems better and they know the solution as well.
Tedros visited a newly upgraded laboratory that can now return Ebola test results within 24 hours, cutting delays that previously required sending samples 1,500 km to Kinshasa.
Funding and response gaps
Tedros renewed appeals for international support, noting that the WHO has received only one-third of the required funding. The European Union delivered medical aid to Ituri on Thursday, while the United States announced an additional $80 million, bringing its total commitment to over $112 million. However, MSF warned that the number of responding organizations and the level of support remain far below what is needed. Health workers in Bunia are working around the clock, with patients still arriving non-stop.
Conflict and community resistance
The affected region is plagued by a long-standing conflict between the Congolese army and rebel groups, which Tedros said demands a ceasefire to facilitate the outbreak response. Deep-seated mistrust complicates containment: many in Ituri view Ebola as a myth, and recommended practices like isolation and body disposal clash with local social norms.
We must do everything we can so that we don't lose another, and get into a cycle of grief.
- DR Congo declares Ebola outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus.
- Confirmed cases stand at 121.
- WHO chief Tedros arrives in Kinshasa; EU aid reaches Ituri; US pledges $80M additional aid.
- Confirmed cases nearly double to 225; suspected cases surpass 1,000.
- Tedros visits Bunia epicenter; MSF warns of unprecedented spread.
