WHO Responding to a New Ebola Outbreak in Congo That Has Killed Dozens

Added: 2026-05-19

[00:00:00]Today, I had a call with the Minister of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Minister Roger Kamba, concerning the new outbreak of Ebola disease in the country's northeastern Ituri province. And on the 5th of May, WHO received a signal of suspected cases and sent a team to Ituri to support DRC health officials in their investigation of the outbreak and collect samples in the field, which initially tested negative for Ebola. Today, I have released $500,000 from WHO's contingency fund for emergencies to immediately support the response. Well, we know very well that the country has experience, but the region where it is happening is highly volatile with the humanitarian situation going on and the population moving around from South Sudan to Uganda and other parts. So, our response is to stand with the regional government with the regional government and the country neighbor in terms of solidarity to show again that they can control this outbreak.

[00:01:08]>> We also have vaccines that that can be pre-positioned. DRC has experience with working with vaccines before. So, as this outbreak unfolds, as more information becomes available, we are ready to provide those through mechanisms that already exist.

[00:01:24]Should it turn out to be a strain that can be a vaccine where a vaccine can be used.