The World Health Organization has issued an urgent appeal for additional international support to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, warning that the current response is being outstripped by the virus's spread.
Speaking to reporters in Geneva on Tuesday, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said the outbreak "is unfortunately still expanding beyond the capacity of the response." He stressed the need for more than just financial help: "We need more support in terms of finances, but also other resources to scale up all areas of response: treatment capacity, field investigation teams, safe burial teams and community workers."
The numbers underscore the scale of the challenge. The DRC has recorded 3,802 confirmed Ebola cases, including 1,707 deaths. While 727 patients have recovered, another 275 suspected cases are still under investigation. Around 17,000 contacts are being monitored, with more than 80% receiving daily follow-up checks.
Although cases have been reported in five provinces, the epicentre is clearly in the northeast. Nearly 90% of infections are concentrated in Ituri province, with almost all the remainder in neighbouring North Kivu. Jasarevic said the response must focus both on where the virus is actively spreading now and on where it could move next.
A familiar but stubborn foe
Ebola is a viral haemorrhagic fever that spreads through close contact with infected people and their bodily fluids. The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on 15 May after several deaths were reported in Ituri. This time, the culprit is the Bundibugyo strain, for which there are no proven safe and effective treatments, vaccines, or post-exposure prophylaxis options.
That makes the current outbreak particularly difficult to manage, even though several trials of potential therapies, vaccines, and post-exposure antiviral drugs are underway. The lack of a proven countermeasure means containment relies heavily on classic public health measures: rapid case identification, isolation, contact tracing, and safe burials.
The appeal from Geneva comes as European governments and institutions weigh their own responses to global health emergencies. The EU has previously channelled funds and expertise to Ebola responses in West Africa, and the bloc's health security framework—bolstered by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control—could play a role in supporting the DRC. Yet the WHO's call highlights a broader gap between declared commitments and the resources actually deployed on the ground.
For European readers, the outbreak is a reminder that infectious diseases do not respect borders. The recent cyclospora outbreak in the US raising concerns for Europe shows how quickly pathogens can travel. While the risk of Ebola spreading to Europe remains low, the WHO's warning underscores the importance of investing in global health security—not only for the DRC's sake but for the continent's own preparedness.
The WHO's plea also comes at a time when Europe is grappling with other crises, from migrant surges at the EU's southern border to rising wildfire risks in southern Europe. These competing demands make it all the more critical for European capitals to maintain a coherent approach to global health, balancing immediate domestic concerns with long-term international commitments.
Jasarevic's message was blunt: without a significant injection of funds and personnel, the outbreak could continue to spiral. "We need to scale up all areas of response," he said, "and we need the international community to step up."
For now, the WHO and its partners are racing to contain the virus in the DRC's remote northeastern provinces, where insecurity and logistical hurdles complicate every step. The coming weeks will test whether the global community heeds the call before the outbreak grows even further beyond reach.
