WHO warns of expanding Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo

Published at: 12/06/2026 12:48 PM

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an alert to the worrying expansion of the Ebola outbreak affecting the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to the international organization, the epidemic is registering a steady growth both in the number of cases detected and in its geographical scope, warning that the real magnitude of the crisis could exceed the official figures reported so far.

As of this Thursday, the Congolese Ministry of Health reported a balance of 676 confirmed cases and 136 deaths due to the disease. Health authorities and response teams face critical challenges in containing the virus, aggravated by the high mobility of the population in the area, the fragility of the local health system and the instability resulting from the presence of armed groups in the territory.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, a variant for which, to date, no vaccine or specific therapeutic treatment is available. The situation also affects Uganda, a neighboring country that already has 19 infections, of which 14 have been imported from the DRC, and two deaths have also been recorded in Ugandan territory.

Faced with this scenario, the WHO has expressed its fear that the virus will spread to densely populated areas and continue to cross international borders. The agency is keeping a strict watch on the evolution of the outbreak, urging that prevention and control measures be reinforced to prevent a major escalation of the health emergency in the region.

Mazo News Team