WHO Chief Tedros: Congo Ebola Outbreak is Ahead of Containment Efforts

In the province of Ituri, near the border with Uganda and South Sudan, the virus had likely been spreading unnoticed for several weeks before being discovered in mid-May. In neighboring Uganda, authorities have so far confirmed 15 Ebola cases, according to the WHO. The WHO classifies the outbreak as not yet under control.

Scale of the Outbreak

According to Tedros, contact tracing remains a central problem: it is still difficult to isolate and monitor the contacts of infected individuals. So far, only 45 percent of contacts have been successfully isolated and monitored. However, to stop the spread, more than 90 percent of contacts would need to be isolated, as Tedros emphasized. The WHO therefore assumes a high number of unreported cases.

Tedros also stated that more must be done to gain the trust of the population so that those who are ill report themselves and can be treated in prepared treatment centers. Mistrust, superstition, and disinformation prevent many people from seeking treatment for themselves or their relatives. WHO Director-General Tedros further stated in Geneva that the WHO is vigorously advancing the development of vaccines and therapeutics for this type of virus.

Obstacles to Containment

The identified pathogen is the rare Bundibugyo type, which was initially not detected by conventional tests. The WHO stated that the backlog of samples has now been largely cleared. The number of suspected cases has significantly decreased – from more than 1,200 to less than 170 – as most samples tested negative. The WHO is supporting the authorities in significantly expanding testing capacities in the region.

Police in Ituri reported a setback: five patients suspected of having Ebola have escaped from the central prison of the provincial capital, Bunia. According to police, the inmates had shown symptoms over the weekend and nevertheless escaped due to lax security measures after being transferred for isolation to two treatment centers. The prison, which houses more than 1,000 inmates, was originally intended to prevent further infections. The responsible police officer, Robert Balezi, confirmed the incident. On Wednesday, Congolese authorities reported no new suspected cases.

Escape of Suspected Patients from Prison

Ebola is transmitted through physical contact and contact with bodily fluids. During the Ebola epidemic in West Africa from 2014 to 2015, more than 11,000 people died, and in the second-deadliest known outbreak from 2018 to 2020 in eastern Congo, around 2,300 people died. This news was broadcast on Deutschlandfunk on June 03, 2026.

Tedros announced that the WHO will continue to support Congo in expanding testing capacities, contact tracing, and vaccine development. Whether the measures taken will be sufficient to contain the epidemic remains open at this time. According to their own statements, the authorities in the region continue to depend on international aid, while public trust is considered a decisive factor for the success of containment.