The Director General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has expressed concern over the rising Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Uganda, warning that the situation could worsen in the coming weeks.
In an update shared on his X account on Tuesday, Tedros said health authorities are currently dealing with a growing outbreak of the Ebola Bundibugyo strain in the region.
According to him, the Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded 101 confirmed cases so far, with 10 confirmed deaths linked to the virus. He also noted that the situation may be more severe than reported, as health officials are monitoring more than 900 suspected cases alongside about 220 suspected deaths.
In Uganda, he confirmed that two additional cases have been identified among healthcare workers. This brings the total number of confirmed infections in the country to seven, including one death.
Tedros explained that response teams and partner organisations are stepping up efforts to contain the outbreak and reduce further spread. He, however, warned that more cases are likely to emerge as surveillance expands.
He stressed that early detection and rapid contact tracing remain critical in controlling the outbreak. According to him, identifying infected individuals quickly and tracing their contacts will help ensure timely treatment and ultimately bring the situation under control.
