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Congo’s Ebola outbreak expands to 63 health zones: WHO
Published : Sunday, 27 September, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Observer Online Report
The Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has spread to two additional health zones, bringing the total number of affected zones to 63 across seven provinces, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday.
The newly affected areas are Bulu in Sud-Ubangi province and Dungu in Haut-Uele province, which borders South Sudan.
As of September 23, the DRC had reported 7,890 confirmed cases and 3,799 deaths, according to the WHO.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said ongoing conflict and population displacement were making it harder for health workers to reach affected communities and trace people who may have been exposed to the virus.
“It’s very difficult to see Ebola in isolation because even our response in Ebola is affected by the conflict because there is displacement and there is access problem to some areas,” Tedros said.
He said restricted access could leave exposed contacts untraced, while displacement and overcrowding could increase the risk of transmission.
Tedros said the number of cases was declining overall, while contact tracing, safe burials and community engagement had improved. However, transmission remained uneven across affected areas.
The response has also been complicated by the lack of approved vaccines and treatments for the Bundibugyo strain. Tedros said this could discourage some people from seeking care at treatment centres, adding that the WHO was working to accelerate clinical trials of vaccines and treatments.
On the risk of future global health emergencies, Tedros urged countries to strengthen pandemic preparedness.
“Ebola will not be a pandemic, but there could be a respiratory pathogen that can become a pandemic,” he said. “Before that hits, we need to prepare.”
The World Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement in May 2025 to strengthen global prevention, preparedness and response to future pandemics.
Tedros also rejected what he described as misinformation about the agreement, including claims that it would undermine countries’ sovereignty.
- MaT
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Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
