WHO warns conflict is hampering Ebola response in eastern DR Congo

The World Health Organization has warned that fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is obstructing efforts to contain an Ebola outbreak in Ituri province. The agency's director-general said the region is facing a "catastrophic collision of disease and conflict" as the outbreak outpaces the response. He said the organisation cannot build community trust or isolate sick people while bombs are falling.

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The WHO said 220 suspected deaths have been reported since the outbreak was declared. Ituri has seen most of the cases, and the agency said transmission depends entirely on humanitarian access. The WHO chief is due to arrive in DR Congo on Wednesday to help scale up containment efforts.

He also called for an immediate ceasefire so medical teams can reach affected communities safely. Aid workers are facing severe access problems because of poor roads, mass displacement and ongoing clashes. The WHO said exposed contacts are being pushed into overcrowded camps, while attacks on health facilities are making it difficult to trace cases and their contacts.

The Congolese health authorities say around 1,000 people are currently showing symptoms consistent with Ebola. The outbreak is also taking place as international aid cuts weaken the health system further. The situation matters because Ebola control depends on rapid isolation, contact tracing and community trust, all of which become harder in an active conflict zone.

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Ituri has been under military rule since 2021, when civilian authority was replaced by a military general in an effort to neutralise dozens of armed groups operating there. That makes the province a particularly difficult setting for a public health response, especially when movement is restricted and health facilities are under pressure. The outbreak is being driven by a rare species of Ebola known as Bundibugyo, for which the supplied material says there are no vaccines.

That increases the importance of containment measures and makes access to patients and contacts even more critical. The WHO's warning also comes as several countries have tightened travel restrictions in response to concerns about possible spread beyond DR Congo. Canada, the Bahamas and the United States have all introduced measures affecting travellers linked to DR Congo and neighbouring countries.

What remains unclear is whether the ceasefire call will lead to any pause in fighting or improve access for health teams. It is also not yet clear how quickly containment infrastructure can be expanded in Ituri, where the WHO says the response is lagging behind the outbreak. The next key developments will be whether humanitarian access improves, whether case numbers rise further, and whether the planned WHO visit leads to more coordinated action on the ground.

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