Speaking in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province and the epicenter of the outbreak, Tedros said local communities must remain at the center of the response to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.
“We are not here to tell people what to do. We are here to listen,” he said at a news conference. “Communities understand their own challenges and their own solutions. Our role is to help you implement those solutions, together.“
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrives at Bunia airport in Ituri, one of the three provinces most affected by the Ebola outbreak.
The outbreak continues to evolve rapidly.
As of May 27, 906 suspected cases and 223 suspicious deaths have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, as of May 29, there have been 134 confirmed cases and 18 confirmed deaths. Additionally, a U.S. citizen who had treated patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently receiving care in Germany.
Building trust
Tedros used his visit to meet with government officials, community leaders, humanitarian agencies and health partners, and emphasized that public trust and community participation would be essential to ending transmission.
“Community ownership is what will end this outbreak,” said.
She expressed hope to interact with women’s groups, religious leaders, business representatives and youth during her visit, describing building trust as a process that “starts with listening.”
The UN health agency has increasingly focused on working through community networks, including local leaders, radio stations and social media influencers, to combat misinformation and encourage early detection and treatment.
Vital timely medical care
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a relatively rare strain of Ebola first identified in Uganda in 2007.
While there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment, Tedros emphasized that survival is possible with timely medical care.
“Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus can be survived with good medical care, and some people here in Ituri have already recovered,” he said. “Seeking early care makes a real difference.“
WHO and its partners are also carrying out clinical trials aimed at developing vaccines and treatments for the strain.
A WHO staff sets up a tent to expand capacity at a hospital in Ituri, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Protect essential services
Meanwhile, response efforts continue to expand.
The WHO has delivered more than 2,000 diagnostic test kits and helped strengthen screening capabilities at key transportation hubs. The agency is also improving water systems at Ebola treatment centers to support infection prevention and control.
There are also deep concerns that the outbreak risks disrupting broader healthcare services in affected areas.
The U.N. reproductive health agency, UNFPA, said health centers were increasingly redirecting staff, supplies and infrastructure toward Ebola response activities, reducing access to services such as emergency cesarean sections, neonatal care, contraception and postnatal support.
To help maintain those services, UNFPA is deploying midwives, reproductive health kits and medical equipment while supporting a regional response plan involving the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.
‘We are here, with you’
Tedros said the response must extend beyond the immediate outbreak and emphasized that the WHO
“As we fight alongside you against this outbreak, we are committed to ensuring that other essential health services and humanitarian assistance continue to be provided to the communities of Ituri and beyond,” he said.
He also expressed confidence that the outbreak can be contained.
“The Democratic Republic of the Congo has faced Ebola before, sixteen times, and has ended every outbreak,” he said. “This is the 17th. That story gives me real confidence.”
In closing his comments, Tedros sought to reassure affected communities.
“You are not alone in this,” said. “We are here, we are with you and together we will achieve it.“
