WHO Warns Conflict in DR Congo Is Hindering Ebola Response

The WHO says conflict in eastern DR Congo is disrupting efforts to contain an Ebola outbreak in Ituri province. Violence, displacement, and poor access are hindering response work. About 220 suspected deaths and around 1,000 symptomatic cases have been reported, though few are confirmed due to limited testing. Health officials warn the situation could worsen, especially as the strain has no approved vaccine.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that ongoing armed conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is severely undermining efforts to contain an Ebola outbreak, describing the situation as a “catastrophic collision of disease and conflict.”
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak in Ituri province is worsening faster than health authorities are able to respond, largely because of insecurity, displacement of civilians, and restricted access to affected communities. In a statement posted on X, he stressed that the WHO “cannot build community trust or isolate the sick while bombs are falling,” highlighting the impact of continued violence on public health operations.
He is expected to arrive in DR Congo on Wednesday to personally coordinate and strengthen response measures aimed at controlling the spread of the virus. According to available data, there have been about 220 suspected deaths linked to the outbreak since it was declared, raising serious concern among health officials and international partners.
Humanitarian workers on the ground report that response efforts are being slowed by multiple challenges. Poor road infrastructure is making travel difficult, while ongoing fighting between armed groups and government forces has led to widespread displacement of civilians. This has placed additional strain on already fragile health systems, which have also been weakened by reductions in international aid funding.
Ituri province, where most of the Ebola cases have been recorded, has been under military administration since 2021, when civilian governance was replaced in an attempt to control dozens of armed groups operating in the area. Despite these measures, insecurity remains high, and access to many communities is still limited.
Dr Tedros emphasised that stopping the outbreak depends entirely on ensuring safe humanitarian access. He explained that continued clashes are forcing people to flee into overcrowded camps, increasing the risk of further transmission. He also noted that critical containment efforts are being disrupted, as health workers struggle to trace contacts and isolate infected individuals under dangerous conditions.
He further warned that frontline health workers are risking their lives daily, while attacks on health facilities and insecurity in surrounding areas make it extremely difficult to track cases and monitor contacts effectively. He called on all parties involved in the conflict to agree to an immediate ceasefire to allow medical teams to operate safely.
Concerns about the outbreak have also led to increased international travel restrictions. Canada has introduced a temporary 90-day entry ban on residents from the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as neighbouring Uganda and South Sudan. The Bahamas has imposed strict entry conditions, requiring quarantine or isolation measures for foreign nationals arriving from those countries.
The United States has also recently restricted entry for non-citizens who have travelled to the affected regions. These measures reflect growing international concern about the potential spread of the virus beyond Central Africa.
Health authorities in DR Congo report that around 1,000 people are currently showing symptoms consistent with Ebola infection. However, only 17 deaths have so far been confirmed through laboratory testing, highlighting the difficulty in verifying cases due to limited testing capacity and insecurity.
The Ebola strain involved in the current outbreak is a rare form known as Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease. Unlike some other strains, there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments specifically available for this variant, making containment efforts more challenging.
Medical teams are working urgently to trace approximately 3,600 people identified as contacts of infected individuals. Around 2,000 test kits have already been distributed, with an additional 4,000 expected to arrive soon. Experimental treatments, including an antibody developed in the United States, may also be introduced as part of the response.
The country director for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in DR Congo said that while efforts are ongoing to strengthen response capacity, insecurity and poor transport infrastructure in Ituri are significantly slowing progress. He noted that although some operational activity is underway, authorities are still far from gaining control over the outbreak.
He added that insufficient testing means the full scale of the outbreak remains unclear. Without more widespread diagnosis and surveillance, health officials cannot fully understand how the virus is spreading or how many people are affected. He warned that at present, response teams are effectively “running behind the virus,” rather than containing it.
Meanwhile, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) announced that it is increasing its presence in the region to support monitoring and coordination efforts as the situation develops.