WHO urges ceasefire in Congo to contain Ebola as cases surge

Geneva. The head of the World Health Organization on Wednesday called for a ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to contain an Ebola outbreak, warning that ongoing fighting is driving mass displacement and accelerating the spread of the disease in overcrowded camps.

The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment, was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO earlier this month, with cases rising sharply.

“Eastern DRC now faces a catastrophic collision of disease and conflict, with the Ebola outbreak in Ituri province outpacing the response,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is due to travel to the region this week.

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