The World Health Organization has raised alarm over the rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Uganda, warning that efforts to contain the disease are struggling to keep pace with new infections.
Speaking during an African Union virtual meeting on Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said delayed detection of cases had allowed the virus to spread more widely, forcing health authorities into a reactive response.
"We are playing catch-up," Tedros said, cautioning that the situation is expected to worsen before improvements are seen.
The outbreak, which originated in eastern DRC, has already resulted in an estimated 220 suspected deaths, according to WHO figures. Health officials are particularly concerned about the growing number of infections in areas where insecurity and conflict continue to hamper public health operations.
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Tedros announced that he would travel to the DRC on Tuesday alongside WHO emergencies chief Chikwe Ihekweazu to assess the situation and support response efforts on the ground.
Uganda has also reported additional cases linked to the outbreak. Authorities confirmed two new infections on Monday, bringing the country's total number of confirmed Ebola cases to seven. WHO warned that other countries sharing borders with the DRC face an elevated risk of transmission and should strengthen surveillance and preparedness measures.
The outbreak has been classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by WHO due to the speed of its spread and the challenges associated with containing it.
Health experts say response efforts are being complicated by the fact that the outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there are currently no approved vaccines. The affected provinces of Ituri and North Kivu in eastern DRC also remain among the country's most volatile regions, making it difficult for healthcare workers to access communities and track infections.
Authorities across the region are intensifying monitoring and containment measures as fears grow that the outbreak could spread beyond the immediate epicentre if not brought under control quickly.
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