WHO warns of 'catastrophic collision' between Ebola outbreak and conflict in DR Congo

The World Health Organization has issued a stark warning that the ongoing armed conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is severely undermining efforts to contain a worsening Ebola outbreak in Ituri province. Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the situation as a "catastrophic collision of disease and conflict," noting that the outbreak is currently outpacing the response due to persistent violence.

Since mid-May, the WHO has recorded 10 confirmed Ebola deaths and 220 suspected deaths in the DRC. A further 900 suspected cases have been reported since Kinshasa officially declared the outbreak on 15 May. The health agency indicated that the true extent of the virus’s spread is likely much wider, with experts suggesting the Bundibugyo strain has been circulating for some time before detection.

Tedros urged an immediate ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian access, citing that clashes are driving mass displacement and severing critical containment corridors. He warned that attacks on health facilities and the fragmentation of authority make contact tracing nearly impossible. "We cannot build community trust or isolate the sick while bombs are falling," he stated, urging warring parties to prioritise human survival.

The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments. Containment relies entirely on preventive measures, including quick detection, isolation, safe burials, and contact tracing. Pierre Boisselet, head of the country's Ebuteli research institute, noted that the current climate of conflict and fragmented authority is not conducive to the community trust required for these measures to succeed.

Tensions have already erupted into violence, with two isolation tents established by the NGO Alima set on fire by an angry crowd demanding the body of a friend who died of Ebola. The riot was dispersed only after soldiers fired warning shots. In response to the unrest, healthcare workers have begun allowing supervised family visits to reduce anxiety and encourage hospital attendance.

The eastern region, mineral-rich and scarred by decades of violence, has seen fighting escalate since the start of 2025 involving the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 insurgent group. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC. In response to the crisis, Canada, the Bahamas, and the United States have imposed international travel restrictions on residents from the DRC.