WHO Raises Ebola Threat Level to ‘Very High’ in DR Congo as Death Toll Fears Escalate

Health authorities tighten restrictions in outbreak epicentre amid fears misinformation, weak surveillance, and lack of vaccines could worsen spread

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By A1NEWS International / May 22, 2026

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo — The World Health Organization has raised the public health risk level of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from “high” to “very high” at the national level, warning that the rapidly evolving crisis could spiral further without urgent containment measures.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the revised assessment as fresh suspected infections and deaths continue to emerge in the eastern Congolese province of Ituri, now considered the epicentre of the outbreak.

The escalation comes amid mounting concerns over misinformation, public distrust, violent resistance against health officials, and the absence of an approved vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola currently spreading through affected communities.

Outbreak Numbers Raise Alarm

According to WHO data released Friday, the outbreak has already produced dozens of confirmed infections and hundreds of suspected cases.

As of May 16:

82 confirmed Ebola cases
Seven confirmed deaths
Nearly 750 suspected cases
About 177 suspected deaths

Earlier WHO assessments had recorded lower figures, indicating that the outbreak may be spreading faster than initially believed.

Tedros described the situation as “deeply worrisome,” warning that surveillance gaps and delayed reporting may be obscuring the true scale of infections across affected communities.

Bundibugyo Strain Poses New Global Challenge

Unlike previous Ebola outbreaks where vaccines and therapeutic protocols existed, health officials say the Bundibugyo strain currently circulating in the DRC has no approved vaccine or targeted treatment.

That reality has intensified fears among international health agencies that the outbreak could become significantly harder to contain if transmission accelerates.

The WHO had earlier declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, citing the risk of cross-border spread and weak healthcare infrastructure in conflict-prone eastern Congo.

Ituri Province Under Tight Restrictions

Authorities in Ituri Province have introduced emergency public health restrictions aimed at slowing transmission of the virus.

The provincial government has:

Banned large public gatherings beyond 50 persons
Restricted funerals and burial ceremonies
Ordered that only specialised medical teams handle burials
Prohibited transportation of corpses using non-medical vehicles
Suspended the local football league

The restrictions followed violent unrest in Rwampara town, where angry residents reportedly torched an Ebola treatment centre and clashed with security forces while attempting to retrieve the body of a victim.

Analysts warn that community resistance and distrust of government health interventions could significantly undermine containment efforts.

Misinformation Fuelling Community Resistance

Humanitarian organisations working in the region say misinformation remains one of the greatest obstacles to controlling the outbreak.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies disclosed that volunteers are conducting door-to-door sensitisation campaigns to counter conspiracy theories and encourage early reporting of symptoms.

Regional Operations Coordinator Gabriela Arenas said community reactions remain divided.

“For some people the outbreak is very real and they are taking information on how to protect themselves,” she said.

“For others, there’s still suspicion and misinformation claiming that Ebola is fabricated.”
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Public health experts note that misinformation has repeatedly complicated Ebola responses in parts of Central Africa, where distrust of authorities and armed conflict often disrupt emergency interventions.

International Health Agencies Mobilise Emergency Response

The WHO confirmed that additional emergency personnel have been deployed to affected areas to strengthen surveillance, case management, and contact tracing operations.

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is actively evaluating potential therapeutics that may prove effective against the Bundibugyo strain.

CDC Ebola response incident manager Satish Pillai said scientists are urgently reviewing available treatment options while attempting to ensure safe deployment of experimental therapies.

Fears of International Spread Grow

Health officials are increasingly concerned that international travel could accelerate the spread of the virus beyond the DRC.

Tedros confirmed that an American national working in the DRC tested positive for Ebola and was transferred to Germany for treatment.

Another American identified as a high-risk contact was moved to the Czech Republic for monitoring.

Separately, Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands disclosed that it admitted a patient under observation for suspected Ebola exposure.

Though the suspicion level was described as low, the patient was isolated in a specialised treatment unit pending further testing.

WHO Warns Against Global Complacency

WHO Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Yakub Janabi warned the international community against underestimating the outbreak simply because it is concentrated in Africa.

Speaking to Reuters, Janabi argued that the Ebola crisis has received less global urgency than other international disease outbreaks affecting wealthier nations.

“It would be a big mistake to underestimate it,” he warned.

“You just need one contact case to put all of us at risk.”

WHO emergency response official Abdirahman Mahamud also warned that the outbreak’s transmission potential had become “high, very high,” fundamentally changing the dynamics of the crisis.

Regional Stability Still Fragile

Although the Bundibugyo strain has also been documented in neighbouring Uganda, WHO officials said the situation there currently remains stable.

However, epidemiologists warn that porous borders, population displacement, and weak healthcare systems across Central and East Africa could complicate regional containment efforts if cases continue rising.

The worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is rapidly evolving into a major regional public health emergency with potentially global implications.

With no approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain, rising suspected deaths, violent resistance to health measures, and growing international exposure risks, the outbreak presents one of the most serious Ebola threats in recent years.

Health experts warn that failure to contain the virus early could have devastating humanitarian and economic consequences far beyond Central Africa.