Ebola in DR Congo far from under control, WHO warns

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus considers the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) to remain an international health emergency. During a meeting with representatives of member states on Wednesday 11 November 2026, he reported nearly 11,000 confirmed infections and more than 5,300 deaths in eight provinces. He also recorded about 3,000 recoveries and a decline in transmission in some areas.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus nevertheless warned of the emergence of new outbreaks and the spread of the virus to other parts of the country. He notably cited an attack the previous week on Cantine-Aloya, which killed 66 civilians, including three health workers. Three health facilities were also looted and then set on fire. More than 1,000 people who had been in contact with patients could not be found, while three confirmed patients had also not been located.

The WHO chief identified insecurity as a major obstacle to operations to combat the virus. He praised the efforts of communities, healthcare workers, Congolese authorities and mobilised partners, while warning that the improvements observed locally do not mean that the outbreak is under control nationwide.