BUNIA, Congo — The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, visited health workers at the Evangelical Medical Centre in Bunia, Congo, on Sunday, May 31, 2026. His visit highlights the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the region. The Associated Press reports at least 282 confirmed Ebola cases in Congo’s current outbreak. Most cases are concentrated in Congo’s eastern Ituri province, with 264 cases reported there, according to Congo’s Ministry of Health.
Ebola in Congo involves over 1,000 suspected cases with the Bundibugyo virus, a species without approved treatments or vaccines. The health ministry emphasizes early detection and rapid isolation, contact tracing, dignified burials, and infection prevention as key challenges. Currently, the contact tracing coverage rate is about 45%, with 220 suspected cases under investigation.
Several recovered patients shared their relief in interviews. Baraka Bulambulu, a nurse, expressed joy after receiving negative results following multiple tests. He received a recovery certificate from WHO’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who inaugurated a new Ebola treatment center in Bunia. Bulambulu remarked, “Coming out of this illness alive is an indescribable joy.” Another nurse, Ezo Étienne, shared his experience, noting symptoms like dizziness and low blood pressure that led to his eventual diagnosis.
The WHO has confirmed that all five survivors—four nurses and a laboratory worker—are among the group most affected. Current treatments address symptoms rather than the virus itself. Tedros praised the survivors, saying, “Your courage gives hope and your living story, that this outbreak can be stopped.”
Additionally, Uganda has reported nine Ebola cases and closed its border with Congo to prevent the virus’s spread. Despite more than 20 previous Ebola outbreaks in Congo and Uganda, the Bundibugyo virus remained rare. Challenges include lack of vaccines, remote locations, and armed violence, but Dr. Dieudonne Mwamba Kazadi from Congo’s National Institute of Public Health considers recoveries a victory worth celebrating. “Seeking care early in a dedicated health facility makes recovery possible,” he stated.
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