WHO Says World Catching Up as Ebola Outbreak Spreads in DR Congo

WHO says the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda is gradually being brought under control, but more funding, testing, and contact tracing are urgently needed to stop its spread.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the response is improving under the leadership of the Congolese government, despite the outbreak having gained an early advantage. Expanded testing has helped clear a backlog of suspected cases, with more than 1,400 tests conducted, ruling out many infections that were initially feared to be Ebola.

Health officials reported that only 16 suspected cases are still awaiting laboratory confirmation, while investigations continue into 220 suspected Ebola-related deaths. Encouragingly, six patients in DR Congo and two in Uganda have recovered, demonstrating that early treatment can improve survival chances.

However, the response continues to face obstacles, including limited contact tracing, testing capacity challenges, and travel restrictions that are disrupting the delivery of essential supplies. WHO says only 45% of identified contacts are being monitored, far below the more than 90% needed to effectively control the outbreak.

The agency estimates it will require at least $115 million over the next three months to support response efforts, with only about 35% of the funding secured so far. A broader response and fundraising plan involving the governments of DR Congo and Uganda, along with partners such as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, is expected to be launched this week.