The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Friday that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, has spread to two additional health zones. The newly affected zones are Bulu in Sud Ubangi province and Dungu in Haut-Uele province, which borders South Sudan. This development brings the total number of health zones affected to 63 across seven provinces.
As of September 23, the Democratic Republic of Congo had reported 7,890 confirmed cases and 3,799 deaths, according to the WHO. The organization’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that conflict and population displacement were complicating efforts to reach affected communities and trace individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.
Tedros noted that restricted access could leave contacts untraced, while displacement and crowding increased transmission risks. He emphasized that cases were declining overall, and contact tracing, safe burials, and community engagement had improved. However, transmission remained uneven across affected areas.
The lack of approved vaccines and treatments for the Bundibugyo strain was also complicating the response, Tedros said. He added that this could make people reluctant to seek care at treatment centers. The WHO is working to accelerate clinical trials of vaccines and treatments.
Turning to the risk of future global health emergencies, Tedros stressed that countries needed to strengthen pandemic preparedness. He warned that while Ebola would not become a pandemic, a respiratory pathogen could emerge and spread globally. The WHO is urging countries to prepare for such an event.
The World Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement in May 2025 to strengthen global prevention, preparedness, and response to future pandemics. However, Tedros noted that there was significant misinformation about the agreement, with some claiming it would cede sovereignty to the WHO. He denied these claims, stating that the agreement aimed to support countries in preparing for and responding to health emergencies.
The WHO is working closely with the Democratic Republic of Congo and other countries to contain the Ebola outbreak. The organization is also engaging with the international community to secure funding and resources to support the response efforts. The situation remains serious, and the WHO is urging continued support and cooperation to bring the outbreak under control.
Key points
- The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to two new health zones, bringing the total number of affected areas to 63 across seven provinces.
- The WHO reports 7,890 confirmed cases and 3,799 deaths as of September 23.
- The organization is working to accelerate clinical trials of vaccines and treatments for the Bundibugyo strain.
