World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has emphasized the crucial role of local communities in combating the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Speaking in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, about the epidemic caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, Tedros stated that the focus would be on the needs and solutions of the local population, as there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment for this virus. “We are not here to tell people what to do. We are here to listen. Communities understand their own challenges and their own solutions. Our role is to support you in implementing those solutions together,” Tedros said at a press conference.
Tedros highlighted the rapid development of the epidemic, reporting 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths in the DRC as of May 27. Across the DRC and Uganda, 134 confirmed cases and 18 confirmed deaths were recorded by May 29. Additionally, an American citizen treating patients in the DRC was reported to be undergoing treatment in Germany.
Building Trust
During his visit, Director-General Tedros met with government officials, community leaders, humanitarian organizations, and health partners, stressing the vital importance of public trust and community involvement in ending the epidemic. “What will make this epidemic end is community ownership,” Tedros stated. He expressed his hope to engage with women’s groups, religious leaders, business representatives, and youth, noting that the process of building trust “starts with listening.” The UN’s health agency has increasingly focused on working through community networks, including local leaders, radio stations, and social media influencers, to combat misinformation and promote early diagnosis and treatment.
Importance of Timely Medical Care
The Bundibugyo virus, responsible for the current outbreak, is a relatively rare strain of Ebola first identified in Uganda in 2007. Although there is no approved vaccine or treatment yet, Tedros affirmed that survival is possible with timely medical care. “Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus can be survived with good medical care, and some people in Ituri have already recovered. Seeking early care makes a real difference,” he said. WHO and its partners are also conducting clinical trials aimed at developing vaccines and treatments for this strain.
Maintaining Essential Services
Meanwhile, response efforts continue to expand. WHO has delivered over 2,000 diagnostic kits and helped strengthen screening capacities at key transport hubs. The organization is also improving water systems in Ebola treatment centers to support infection prevention and control. The risk of disruption to general health services in affected areas is also a serious concern. The UN’s reproductive health agency, UNFPA, reported that health facilities are diverting staff, supplies, and infrastructure to Ebola response activities, reducing access to services such as Cesarean sections, newborn care, family planning, and postnatal support. To help sustain these services, UNFPA is deploying midwives, reproductive health kits, and medical equipment while supporting a regional response plan covering the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan.
‘We Are With You’
Tedros emphasized that the response must extend beyond the immediate epidemic, stating, “As we fight this epidemic with you, we are committed to ensuring that other essential health services and humanitarian aid continue to be provided to communities in Ituri and beyond.” He also expressed confidence that the epidemic can be brought under control. “The DRC has faced Ebola before, sixteen times, and ended every outbreak. This is the seventeenth. That history gives me real confidence,” he added. Concluding his remarks, Tedros sought to reassure the affected communities: “You are not alone. We are here, we are with you, and we will get through this together.”
