WHO Chief Warns Ebola Fight in DRC ‘Far From Over’ as Cases Rise in North Kivu

The World Health Organization's Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the battle against Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is "far from over," pointing to a surge in cases in the eastern province of North Kivu.

According to Al Jazeera, Tedros said that while health authorities have made progress containing the virus in other affected regions of the country, North Kivu has seen a significant increase in infections in recent weeks.

The WHO chief did not provide specific case numbers or a timeline for the outbreak's trajectory in the report cited by Al Jazeera, but he emphasized that the situation in North Kivu required continued vigilance and resources from international health bodies and the DRC government.

North Kivu has historically been one of the most difficult regions for Ebola response efforts due to ongoing armed conflict, population displacement and community mistrust of health workers, factors that have previously complicated containment campaigns in the province.

Tedros' remarks come as the DRC continues to grapple with recurring Ebola outbreaks, a disease that causes severe hemorrhagic fever and has claimed thousands of lives in the country over the past decade.

The WHO has not yet detailed specific new measures planned for North Kivu, but Tedros' comments signal that the organization considers the outbreak an ongoing priority despite gains reported elsewhere in the DRC.