By SHARON NAKOLA in Nairobi, Kenya |
chinadaily.com.cn |
Conflict and large-scale displacement in the eastern part of Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC, are severely complicating efforts to contain a growing Ebola outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus strain, the World Health Organization has said, warning that insecurity, population movement, and overstretched health systems are hampering surveillance and response operations in one of Central Africa's most volatile regions.
"Conflict has intensified since late 2025, and fighting has escalated significantly over the past two months, with over 100,000 people newly displaced," said the WHO's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at a news briefing on Wednesday. "The area is also a mining zone, with high levels of population movement that increase the risk of further spread."
The WHO has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, with at least 51 confirmed cases and nearly 600 suspected cases reported in DRC and Uganda, though the scale of the epidemic is estimated to be much larger.
