WHO Raises Ebola Risk Level in DR Congo to “Very High” as Outbreak Spreads

The World Health Organization (WHO) has increased the public health risk level of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from “high” to “very high,” warning that the situation continues to escalate.In an update released on Friday, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the risk remains “high” across the wider African region, but is still assessed as “low” at the global level.

The outbreak involves the rare Ebola strain known as Bundibugyo, which currently has no approved vaccine and is estimated to kill around one-third of those infected.

So far, health authorities report 177 suspected deaths and about 750 suspected cases linked to the outbreak in the DRC. Of these, 82 cases have been confirmed, along with seven confirmed deaths, according to Dr Tedros.

The WHO also confirmed that neighbouring Uganda has recorded two confirmed cases of the same Ebola strain, including one death. Officials say these cases are linked to travel from the DRC, and the situation in Uganda is currently stable.

Scientists at Oxford University in the United Kingdom are working on a potential vaccine, which could enter clinical trials within the next two to three months. However, researchers caution that there is no guarantee of success, as the candidate still requires further animal studies and human testing.A second experimental vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain is also under development, though it is expected to take six to nine months before it is ready for testing.

Speaking at a briefing in Geneva, Dr Tedros said the WHO has updated its risk assessment to “very high” nationally, “high” regionally, and “low” globally. He also emphasized the need to strengthen trust in affected communities, warning that insecurity and violence are complicating response efforts.

His comments followed an incident in eastern DRC where angry relatives reportedly set fire to a hospital after health workers refused to release a patient’s body due to infection control measures.

Ebola is a rare but highly dangerous viral disease that typically originates in animals such as fruit bats and can spread to humans through contact with infected animals or contaminated materials. On Sunday, the WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, though it stopped short of classifying it as a pandemic threat.