The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (World Health Organization), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has concluded a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where he briefed President Felix Tshisekedi on efforts to contain a growing Ebola outbreak.

Tedros’ visit focused on strengthening coordination between international partners and national authorities as health teams race to control transmission in affected provinces.

Concerns over scale and delayed detection

Health officials say the outbreak—linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola—may have gone undetected for weeks, with humanitarian agencies warning that the true number of infections could be significantly higher than official reports.

Aid group the International Rescue Committee (International Rescue Committee) cautioned that weak contact tracing and limited surveillance capacity could be masking the real scale of the spread.

Authorities have reported hundreds of suspected cases and rising confirmed infections across conflict-affected regions, including Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.

Conflict complicates containment efforts

The response has been further hampered by ongoing insecurity in eastern DRC, where armed groups continue to displace communities and disrupt health operations. Recent attacks in North Kivu have added pressure on already stretched medical teams.

Health workers say insecurity is making it harder to trace contacts, conduct safe burials, and maintain treatment centres.

Push for vaccines and international support

With no approved vaccine yet for the Bundibugyo strain, global health actors are accelerating research efforts. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) has pledged funding support to fast-track vaccine development in collaboration with firms including Moderna.

China has also announced plans to send medical specialists to support containment efforts on the ground.

Tedros stressed that stronger community engagement, improved surveillance, and increased international funding will be critical in bringing the outbreak under control.