WHO Director-General Visits Congo Amid Ebola Outbreak

KINSHASA, Congo — The Director-General of the World Health Organization recently arrived in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo. His visit comes as the country grapples with a rare Ebola outbreak, a situation made more challenging by inadequate medical resources, a population facing distrust, and the presence of armed groups in the area.

“Being here really shows to the community that they aren’t alone,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the media at the airport. He contrasted his comfortable office in Geneva with the real challenges on the ground, urging both his colleagues and local communities to work collaboratively to safeguard their health.

Medical supplies donated by the European Union just reached Ituri province, the heart of the outbreak. Additionally, the U.S. announced an extra $80 million in aid that day, bringing its total support to over $112 million.

Healthcare workers are struggling to contain the Bundibugyo virus, a type of Ebola that currently lacks approved treatments or vaccines. Reports indicate they are often resorting to using expired medical masks while treating patients. As of Tuesday, WHO revealed that there have been 1,077 suspected cases and 238 suspected deaths.

The difficulties faced by health professionals are exacerbated by community unrest concerning strict medical protocols for handling the bodies of Ebola victims, which clash with local burial traditions. This has resulted in at least three attacks on health facilities.

Tedros pointed out that additional factors complicating the outbreak response include the high number of people displaced due to ongoing conflict and increasing food insecurity. Just the day before, he called for a ceasefire in an area where armed conflict has persisted for decades.

“Building community trust or isolating the sick is nearly impossible while violence continues,” he remarked.

Located near the Ugandan border, Ituri province has suffered from attacks by the Allied Democratic Force (ADF), a rebel group associated with ISIS, and various ethnic militias. In early May, the ADF reportedly killed at least 40 people and set several homes ablaze in Ituri.

Moreover, the illness has also been reported in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, where the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group controls significant urban areas like Goma and Bukavu. Reports indicate there have been two cases associated with the rebels.

The main airport in Goma, critical for humanitarian operations, has been inactive since January 2025, when M23 seized control of the city. This ongoing conflict has led to one of the largest humanitarian crises globally, displacing around 7 million people in eastern Congo.

During his visit, Tedros advised against imposing travel bans on individuals from countries affected by the outbreak. He noted, “There are ways to manage cases without strong travel restrictions, and we don’t encourage that as the WHO.” In contrast, last week, the Trump administration announced a temporary entry ban for individuals without U.S. passports who’ve been in Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the last 21 days. They stated plans to redirect Americans exposed to Ebola to a new facility in Kenya rather than returning them to the U.S. Additionally, Uganda and Rwanda have both recently closed their borders.