The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the current Ebola outbreak in Ituri province, eastern DRC, may be more widespread than official reports from local health authorities suggest.
According to the WHO, preliminary surveillance data indicates that many suspected cases of Ebola virus infection and deaths in the area have not been fully tested or reported. This raises the risk of a larger wave of transmission if the chain of infection is not brought under control soon.
In its latest statement, the WHO representative in the DRC stressed the urgent need to expand testing, contact tracing, and quarantine capacity. Rapid response teams have been deployed to key areas of Ituri, working alongside local authorities to protect healthcare workers and communities.
The current Ebola outbreak was declared in August 2024 in Ituri province, marking the 15th such outbreak since the virus first appeared in what is now the DRC in 1976. To date, Ituri and neighboring areas have reported dozens of cases and deaths, but the WHO believes the actual number may be significantly higher.
The WHO director has called on neighboring countries to increase vigilance at border points, amid concerns the virus could spread to Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan. However, no cases outside the DRC have been confirmed so far.
