{"id":1481,"date":"2026-05-19T09:39:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T09:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnnglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/19\/who-head-deeply-concerned-by-ebola-outbreak-as-cases-and-deaths-rise-in-drc\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T09:39:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T09:39:41","slug":"who-head-deeply-concerned-by-ebola-outbreak-as-cases-and-deaths-rise-in-drc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/?p=1481","title":{"rendered":"WHO head \u2018deeply concerned\u2019 by Ebola outbreak as cases and deaths rise in DRC"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"97078598-0671-4d50-979c-23a7da851a5c\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Workers with pallets of supplies about to be loaded on to a UN plane\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/b64caeb89836e5395c6168367a7028aee7960092\/513_0_3467_2773\/master\/3467.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"371.9195269685607\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">World Health Organization workers mobilising 4.7 tonnes of medical supplies and emergency kits to support the areas affected by the outbreak.<\/span> Photograph: World Health Organization\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"97078598-0671-4d50-979c-23a7da851a5c\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">World Health Organization workers mobilising 4.7 tonnes of medical supplies and emergency kits to support the areas affected by the outbreak.<\/span> Photograph: World Health Organization\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">WHO head \u2018deeply concerned\u2019 by Ebola outbreak as cases and deaths rise in DRC<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>At least 130 people thought to have been killed, says Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus before emergency meeting<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/may\/18\/ituri-eastern-drc-ebola-outbreak-panic-fear\" data-link-name=\"in standfirst link\">\u2018It\u2019s heartbreaking\u2019: panic in eastern DRC over return of Ebola<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The director general of the World Health Organization has said he is deeply concerned about the scale and the speed of the Ebola outbreak in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/congo\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Democratic Republic of the Congo<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there had been at least 500 suspected cases of Ebola and 130 suspected deaths in DRC since the new outbreak began. Thirty cases had been confirmed in DRC\u2019s north-eastern province of Ituri, and one death and one case had been confirmed in Kampala, Uganda, he added. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/18\/us-ebola-virus-congo-uganda\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">A US citizen has also tested positive<\/a> and been transferred to Germany.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThese numbers will change as field operations are scaling up, including strengthening surveillance, contact tracing and laboratory testing,\u201d Tedros told members of the World Health assembly, who are meeting this week in Geneva.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Tedros <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/may\/17\/who-ebola-outbreak-congo-uganda-global-health-emergency\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern<\/a> in the early hours of Sunday morning. On Tuesday he said: \u201cThis is the first time a director general has declared a PHEIC before convening an emergency committee. I did not do this lightly \u2026 I\u2019m deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The WHO will convene its emergency committee on Tuesday to advise what recommendations it should make on how to control the outbreak. The US officially left the WHO in January in a move Donald Trump said was motivated by the organisation\u2019s poor management of the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"247c6f09-a8aa-4374-86f7-43fd720572eb\" class=\"element element-interactive element--inline element-inline dcr-w422y2\" data-alt=\"Ebola outbreak map\" data-testid=\"interactive-element-Ebola%20outbreak%20map\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\">\n<div data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-ri3hap\"><\/div>\n<p><a data-name=\"placeholder\" href=\"https:\/\/interactive.guim.co.uk\/uploader\/embed\/2026\/05\/ebola_map-180526\/giv-32554ydgAByH4rQaH\/\" class=\"dcr-1eupayo\">Ebola outbreak map<\/a><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Tedros said reports of cases in urban areas, where the virus typically finds it easier to spread, were also cause for concern.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Cases among health workers indicated potential spread in clinics and hospitals, he said, and there was \u201csignificant population movement in the area\u201d, for work and also due to conflict.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"12993881-f89d-4eef-9a31-b3dc4d1836e2\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-8 | 8\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1kyw41h\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-1bg5532\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/may\/18\/ituri-eastern-drc-ebola-outbreak-panic-fear\" class=\"dcr-1m887w9\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-ut4tvs\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1h5b6rb\">\n<div class=\"dcr-169d7yv\">\u2018It\u2019s heartbreaking\u2019: panic in eastern DRC over return of Ebola<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-eurq8n\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fkf7vq\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The province of Ituri, where most cases have been reported, was \u201chighly insecure\u201d, Ghebreyesus said. \u201cConflict has intensified since late 2025, and the fighting has escalated significantly over the past two months resulting in civilian deaths. Over 100,000 people have been newly displaced. And in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/ebola\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Ebola<\/a> outbreaks, you know what displacement means.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">An outbreak of the Zaire strain from 2018-2020 in Ituri and North Kivu provinces was the second deadliest on record, killing nearly 2,300 people. The international response then was complicated by widespread armed violence in eastern DRC that continues today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected people or animals and causes symptoms that can include high fever, vomiting and internal and external bleeding. According to the WHO, the average fatality rate from Ebola is around 50%, varying from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Bundibugyo virus, the type of Ebola that is causing the current outbreak, has no vaccines or treatments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Although more than 20 Ebola outbreaks have been recorded in DRC and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/uganda\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Uganda<\/a>, this is only the third time that the Bundibugyo virus has been detected. Cases have now also been confirmed in Bunia and North Kivu\u2019s rebel-held capital of Goma, as well as Mongbwalu, Butembo, and Nyakunde.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/ebola\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Ebola<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/congo\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Democratic Republic of the Congo<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/world-health-organization\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">World Health Organization<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/global-development\/global-health\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Global health<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/uganda\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Uganda<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/africa\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Africa<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=WHO%20head%20%E2%80%98deeply%20concerned%E2%80%99%20by%20Ebola%20outbreak%20as%20cases%20and%20deaths%20rise%20in%20DRC&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/may\/19\/ebola-outbreak-drc-who-tedros-adhanom-ghebreyesus-deeply-concerned?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2026%2Fmay%2F19%2Febola-outbreak-drc-who-tedros-adhanom-ghebreyesus-deeply-concerned&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=world\/2026\/may\/19\/ebola-outbreak-drc-who-tedros-adhanom-ghebreyesus-deeply-concerned\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>World Health Organization workers mobilising 4.7 tonnes of medical supplies and emergency kits to support the areas affected by the outbreak. Photograph: World Health Organization\/Reuters View image in fullscreen World &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/?p=1481\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1482,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1481"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1481\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}