WHO chief says Ebola outbreak in Congo is ‘spreading rapidly’ and upgrades risk assessment

The head of the World Health Organization on Friday warned that the Ebola outbreak in Congo is “spreading rapidly,” prompting the agency to raise its national risk assessment to “very high” from “high.”

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the risk of regional spread remains high, while the global risk level continues to be considered low.

The WHO said 82 Ebola cases and seven deaths have been officially confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but cautioned that the true scale of the outbreak is likely much larger. Nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths are currently under investigation.

In neighboring Uganda, the situation remains stable, with two confirmed infections linked to travelers from Congo and one reported death.

The United Nations has released $60 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund to strengthen containment efforts in Congo and surrounding regions. The United States has also pledged $23 million in support for response measures in Congo and Uganda, including plans to fund up to 50 Ebola treatment centers in affected areas.

However, Ugandan authorities said they were not aware of any US-backed treatment centers being established in the country.