WHO chief says Ebola outbreak can be stopped as he arrives in DR Congo

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in Kinshasa and said the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo can still be stopped, as WHO steps up support to the response.

The visit comes as health teams try to contain the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in eastern Congo, where insecurity and distrust have complicated efforts to reach affected communities.

WHO said it has been scaling up support, including emergency supplies and assistance to local response teams. The agency has also warned that there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment specific to the Bundibugyo strain.

Response effort

WHO issued a message to people in the Democratic Republic of Congo on May 28 urging communities to come forward early if they suspect infection and to work with health workers trying to stop transmission.

The agency said it is working with partners to protect communities and halt the outbreak. Earlier this month, WHO also intensified support to the response in the affected area.

What happens next

The key question is whether the expanded response can reach all affected areas quickly enough to contain the outbreak. Open issues include case counts, deaths and whether insecurity continues to block access for response teams.

Tedros's arrival underscores that WHO sees the outbreak as still containable, but the outcome will depend on whether health workers can overcome the operational and trust barriers on the ground.