The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that the Ebola outbreak, which continues to claim lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), could soon be brought under control through cooperation with international partners.

Tedros made the remarks on Thursday evening, 28 May 2026, upon his arrival in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, where he is on a mission aimed at responding to the outbreak that has already killed more than 114 people since the beginning of this year.

The WHO chief said that he and his team had already reached parts of Ituri Province in eastern DRC, where the outbreak is most severe, as part of efforts to support response operations, although he did not provide further details about his visit.

He also stated that WHO, in collaboration with various global partners, is doing everything possible to stop Ebola, adding that combined efforts and strong cooperation will help end the outbreak.

Tedros further urged countries and international partners to increase funding for Ebola response activities so that the required resources can be secured, noting that only about one-third of the needed funds have so far been raised.

He also highlighted that ongoing conflict and insecurity in eastern DRC are making response efforts more difficult, calling on fighting groups to immediately cease hostilities so that civilian lives can be prioritized.

Since 15 May 2026, WHO has confirmed more than 100 deaths from Ebola in the DRC, with an additional 223 suspected deaths, while more than 1,000 people are suspected of being infected.

Currently, there is no specific vaccine or treatment available for this new strain of Ebola (Bundibugyo) affecting the DRC, although WHO says that vaccines and treatments are under clinical trials.