Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo Worsens as Deaths Reach 223

International medical organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has issued a stern warning regarding the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The situation on the ground is described as extremely alarming due to the unprecedented speed of the virus’s spread. MSF Operations Deputy Director Alan Gonzalez stated that two weeks after the outbreak was announced in Ituri Province, public health and the safety of medical staff are under real threat. ‘The situation is extremely worrying and a genuine source of anxiety for the public and frontline health workers,’ Gonzalez said in a statement on Saturday (30 May 2026). According to Gonzalez, medical teams on the ground face significant challenges due to the rapid transmission rate of Ebola, with current response capacities unable to keep pace with the virus’s spread in the region. Despite new suspected cases being reported daily, the main obstacle is the slow laboratory testing process, hindering timely diagnosis which is crucial for breaking transmission chains. ‘Laboratory testing capacity must be urgently increased to at least partially control the situation,’ Gonzalez stressed. MSF’s statement coincided with a high-level visit by World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to Ituri Province. WHO has officially declared the Ebola outbreaks in the DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). As of now, over 900 suspected Ebola cases have been recorded in the DRC, with 223 fatalities. The crisis emerged just months after the previous outbreak in the country was declared over in October 2025. Health experts are urging the international community to provide immediate logistical and medical support to strengthen early detection systems and patient management in affected areas. Uganda’s Ministry of Health reported two new Ebola cases among Congolese nationals, bringing the total to nine amid cross-border transmission from the DRC. The statement emphasised that anyone returning from the DRC to Uganda must undergo 21 days of self-isolation under health authorities’ supervision. Violence in eastern DRC involves several armed groups, including the M23 rebels and the Cooperative for the Development of Congo militia. Amid the Ebola surge in Congo, the US has banned entry for patients and established quarantine facilities in Kenya, drawing sharp criticism for being unethical. The PHEIC declaration is seen as a serious signal of the risk of cross-border spread if the outbreak is not swiftly contained. The Democratic Republic of Congo national team has confirmed it will not alter its World Cup 2026 preparations despite squad members being required to isolate due to the Ebola outbreak.