Kinshasa, May 27th, 2026 (CPA). – The World Health Organization (WHO) warned Wednesday of a “catastrophic collision” between armed insecurity and the spread of the Ebola epidemic in Ituri province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to a statement published on the organization’s website. “WHO is sounding the alarm over the rapid deterioration of the health situation in eastern DRC. Eastern DRC is now facing a catastrophic collision between disease and conflict, as the Ebola outbreak in Ituri province is progressing faster than the response,” declared Tedros Adhanom, WHO Director-General. As he prepares for a working mission to the DRC, Mr Adhanom also regretted that armed clashes in eastern DRC are seriously complicating health response operations following the official declaration of this 17th Ebola virus outbreak. “Massive population displacements, attacks against health facilities and persistent insecurity are preventing health teams from properly carrying out contact tracing and isolating infected persons,” he stated. “We cannot build community trust or isolate patients while bombs are falling,” he insisted, while calling on all parties involved in the conflict to immediately observe a ceasefire in order to allow secure humanitarian access to medical teams operating on the ground. “We call on all parties to the conflict to immediately agree to a ceasefire in order to contain this outbreak and ensure safe and sustainable access for medical teams,” Tedros Adhanom urged. Declared on May 15th, 2026, this new Ebola outbreak mainly affects Ituri province, with the epicenter located in the Mungbwalu health zone in Djugu territory.
WHO has classified the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern. ACP/