WHO chief arrives in Congo as Ebola cases approach 4,000

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo: World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo to support efforts to contain the world's fastest-growing Ebola outbreak, as the number of confirmed cases approaches 4,000. Tedros arrived in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, late on Tuesday and is expected to meet President Félix Tshisekedi and international partners involved in the response, according to the WHO country office. The visit marks his second trip to the country since the outbreak was officially declared in May. Latest figures from Congo's Ministry of Health show that the outbreak had reached 3,874 confirmed cases and 1,751 deaths as of Monday. The outbreak has become the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record, surpassed only by the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic, which infected more than 28,000 people and claimed over 11,000 lives. Health officials say the outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. Authorities believe the virus had been circulating in remote areas of eastern Congo for some time before the outbreak was formally declared on 15th May 2026. Response struggling to keep pace Officials remain concerned that transmission continues to outpace containment efforts. A significant proportion of newly reported infections are occurring outside the list of known contacts being monitored by health authorities, indicating that the virus continues to spread undetected in some communities. The outbreak is centred in Ituri Province, which accounts for nearly 90% of all recorded cases. Response efforts have been complicated by insecurity in the region, where rebel activity has limited access to several affected localities. Health operations have also faced disruption after some healthcare workers went on strike over delayed salary payments, although reports indicate that some workers have recently received payments. Concerns over contact tracing Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya, who visited Ituri's capital, Bunia, this week, warned that contact tracing efforts are proving insufficient. According to Kaseya, between 60% and 70% of newly detected infections are emerging from outside the official list of known contacts. "We need to be innovative on the way to approach the contact list," he said. Health authorities say delayed detection of infections remains one of the biggest challenges in controlling the outbreak and has contributed to a fatality rate of around 45%. Death toll continues to rise The Ministry of Health reported 77 new cases over the previous 24-hour reporting period, including 44 deaths. At present, 717 patients remain in isolation, while 749 people have recovered from the disease. International health agencies continue to expand treatment, surveillance and community awareness programmes as they seek to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread within Congo and neighbouring countries.