WHO warns Ebola crisis in DRC remains critical despite regional gains

The head of the World Health Organization emphasized on Wednesday that efforts to contain Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo remain far from complete, citing a troubling spike in cases across North Kivu province.

While health authorities have achieved progress in certain regions, the resurgence in North Kivu underscores the fragile nature of disease control efforts in the conflict-affected nation. The WHO chief stressed that sustained vigilance and resources remain essential to prevent further spread of the hemorrhagic fever.

The warning comes as the DRC continues to grapple with multiple health crises simultaneously. North Kivu's volatile security situation has complicated contact tracing and vaccination campaigns, hampering response efforts that have proven effective in more stable areas.

Health officials have called for increased international support and coordinated action to manage the outbreak. The resurgence highlights the risk of complacency after earlier progress, with experts cautioning that the virus could establish new transmission chains if containment measures falter.