WHO warns Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is expanding at unprecedented pace

14:15

By: Sahili Aya

WHO warns Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is expanding at unprecedented pace

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an urgent warning over the rapidly escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), describing its expansion as occurring at an "exceptional" pace and calling for a stronger international health response.

According to the agency, the epidemic has now become the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the country, surpassing previous national outbreaks in terms of its scale. The assessment confirms figures released earlier by Congolese health authorities, highlighting the growing pressure on the country's healthcare system.

WHO stressed that intensified surveillance, faster case detection, expanded treatment capacity and stronger community engagement will be essential to slowing transmission. The organization also emphasized the importance of mobilizing additional resources to reinforce response efforts before the outbreak spreads further.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has experienced multiple Ebola outbreaks over the past decades, making it one of the countries most frequently affected by the deadly viral disease. The country's most severe epidemic, which lasted from 2018 to 2020, resulted in nearly 3,500 reported infections and approximately 2,300 deaths, underscoring the devastating impact the virus can have when transmission accelerates.

Health officials remain focused on containing the current outbreak through coordinated action involving national authorities, international partners and humanitarian organizations. Public health experts continue to stress that early diagnosis, patient isolation, contact tracing and vaccination campaigns are among the most effective tools for limiting the spread of Ebola.

As the number of infections continues to rise, the latest WHO warning highlights the urgency of expanding emergency operations to prevent the outbreak from developing into an even larger regional health crisis.