WHO raises Ebola alert in the Democratic Republic of Congo to 'very high'.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on May 22 that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is "spreading rapidly," and raised its risk assessment for the country from "high" to "very high."

Medical personnel check the body temperature of residents to detect cases of Ebola virus infection in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, on May 19, 2026. Photo: THX/VNA

According to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak has now far exceeded initial confirmed figures. The WHO reported that the Democratic Republic of Congo officially recorded 82 Ebola infections and 7 deaths, but the actual situation may be much more serious, with nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 deaths suspected to be related to the disease.

In neighboring Uganda, health officials confirmed two cases linked to travelers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of whom died. The WHO assessed the risk of regional spread as “high,” while the global risk remains “low.”

This outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, one of the Ebola variants for which there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment. The WHO states that only vaccines and treatments are available for the Ebola strain, while there are no licensed treatments for the Sudan and Bundibugyo strains.

According to WHO scientist Sylvie Briand, the agency is considering using several drugs and monoclonal antibodies previously tested on other Ebola strains after initial data suggested they might be effective against the current variant.

Besides concerns about the disease itself, the WHO also warned that violence, security instability, and high rates of population movement are significantly hindering efforts to contain and control the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The agency is currently developing a new Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan for the African region, focusing on early detection, controlling community spread, and mobilizing international resources to prevent the Ebola outbreak from escalating into a large-scale crisis.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has released $60 million from its Emergency Response Fund to accelerate support for Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan in responding to the outbreak.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/who-nang-canh-bao-dich-ebola-tai-chdc-congo-len-muc-rat-cao-169260522222904012.htm