WHO is concerned about the spread of Ebola.

VTV.vn - The World Health Organization (WHO) is concerned about the speed of Ebola's spread as the disease continues to escalate in eastern Congo, with a rapidly increasing number of deaths.

(Photo: AP)

In the town of Rwampara in Congo – one of the hotspots of this Ebola outbreak – hospitals are urgently setting up isolation treatment areas. Meanwhile, many families are losing loved ones within days of the onset of the disease.

In the courtyard of Rwampara General Hospital, medical staff in full protective gear silently placed bodies into coffins. After each step, gloves, stretchers, and even the coffins had to be rigorously disinfected to prevent further spread of the Ebola virus. Cries echoed throughout the hospital grounds; many families still couldn't believe their loved ones had passed away in such a short time.

Botwine Swanze, the mother of a victim who died from Ebola in Congo, said: "My son said he had a heart attack, but I thought he had a stomach ache. Then he cried because of intense pain in his stomach. Then he started vomiting. Then there was bleeding and a lot of vomiting."

Relatives watch as those who died from Ebola are carried out of a medical center in Rwampara, Congo, on May 20, 2026 (AP Photo).

The World Health Organization has declared an international public health emergency for this Ebola outbreak, warning of the alarming scale and speed of the disease's spread.

Hama Amado, coordinator of the International Humanitarian Medical Assistance Organization, said: "As everyone can see on the ground, the situation is very worrying as the Ebola outbreak is spreading to many different areas. Everyone needs to be mobilized."

The virus causing the outbreak is the Bundibugyo strain – a rare variant of Ebola. The virus had been silently spreading for weeks before being detected. This was because initial tests were conducted on more common Ebola strains and yielded negative results.

Congolese health officials are rushing to set up specialized Ebola treatment centers in Rwampara and surrounding areas to isolate patients from existing general hospitals.

This is the 17th Ebola outbreak in Congo. Although the country has experience in responding to Ebola epidemics, the emergence of the rare Bundibugyo strain and its rapid rate of spread are putting immense pressure on the local health system.

Source: https://vtv.vn/who-lo-ngai-dich-ebola-lan-rong-100260521124455984.htm