WHO: Ebola in Congo Difficult to Control Due to Conflict & Mistrust

Thairath•International•1d ago

Reader Briefing

The World Health Organization has highlighted that the Ebola outbreak in Congo is complex and challenging to control due to ongoing conflict, insecurity, population displacement, and public distrust.

•The WHO Director-General visited the Democratic Republic of Congo on May 29, 2026, to address the escalating Ebola outbreak.
•Controlling the outbreak is hindered by persistent conflict, armed group attacks, displacement, food shortages, and mistrust of health workers.
•The WHO is committed to supporting response efforts and urges all parties to cease fire to allow safe access for medical personnel.
•The Democratic Republic of Congo has reported over 1,000 suspected cases and at least 238 suspected deaths, with the outbreak spreading in the eastern regions.

Overview

•On May 29, 2026, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, to address the Ebola outbreak.
•The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is complex and difficult to control due to concurrent factors.
•The complexity is due to security conflicts, armed group attacks, population displacement, food shortages, and mistrust of health officials in some communities.
•WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated to communities that they are not fighting alone and WHO will fully support the response.
•Teams from WHO are operating in Bunia, Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak in the eastern part of the country.
•Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus plans to visit affected areas on Friday to personally monitor the situation.
•WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for a ceasefire in conflict zones to ensure safe access for healthcare workers.
•WHO does not support travel bans, as they only offer short-term slowdowns and can negatively impact the health system, potentially deterring future transparency.
•The Ministry of Health of Congo has reported over 1,000 suspected cases and at least 238 suspected deaths thus far.
•The epidemic continues to spread in several areas in the eastern region.

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Key Quotes

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

"We are not fighting alone, and WHO is ready to fully support the epidemic response mission."

พวกเราไม่ได้ต่อสู้อย่างโดดเดี่ยว และ WHO พร้อมสนับสนุนภารกิจรับมือการระบาดอย่างเต็มที่

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

"WHO does not support travel bans, as they only temporarily slow the spread and could negatively impact the health system more."

WHO ไม่สนับสนุนการห้ามเดินทาง เพราะมีผลเพียงชะลอการแพร่เชื้อได้ในช่วงสั้น และอาจส่งผลเสียต่อระบบสาธารณสุขมากกว่า

Key Entities

Organization

World Health Organization(องค์การอนามัยโลก)ℹ️

An international organization the Director-General of which is addressing the Ebola outbreak in Congo.

Congo Ministry of Health(กระทรวงสาธารณสุขคองโก)

The governmental body reporting on the number of suspected Ebola cases and deaths in Congo.

Place

Congo(คองโก)ℹ️

The country experiencing a complex and difficult-to-control Ebola outbreak.

Kinshasa(กรุงคินชาชา)ℹ️

The capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo where the WHO Director-General arrived.

Republic of Congo(สาธารณรัฐคองโก)ℹ️

The nation facing a significant Ebola outbreak, with the WHO Director-General visiting its capital.

Bunia(เมืองบูเนีย)ℹ️

The city in Ituri province serving as the center of the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo.

Ituri Province(จังหวัดอิตูรี)ℹ️

The eastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo where the Ebola outbreak is centered.

Person

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus(นายทีดรอส อัดฮานอม กีเบรเยซุส)ℹ️

The Director-General of the World Health Organization commenting on the Ebola outbreak in Congo.