MAY 29, 2026
WHO chief arrives in Congo as aid reaches Ebola outbreak zone amid security and supply challenges
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in Kinshasa, Congo, on Thursday to witness response efforts against an outbreak of the Bundibugyo virus, a rare form of Ebola with no approved treatment or vaccine. A cargo plane carrying EU-donated medical supplies — including masks, gloves, boots, and medications — landed in Bunia, the northeastern town at the heart of the outbreak in Ituri province. The Congolese government has confirmed more than 1,000 suspected cases and at least 220 deaths since declaring the outbreak on May 15.
Health workers in Ituri province have been contending with a shortage of basic protective equipment severe enough that some doctors have resorted to wearing expired medical masks while treating suspected patients, according to both AP and NPR. The WHO has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, and EU aid supplies are expected to arrive in additional batches over the next eight days, said Jérôme Kouachi, head of emergency operations at UNICEF in Congo.
Upon landing in Kinshasa, Tedros told reporters that his visit was intended to signal solidarity with affected communities. "To come here is to really show to the community that they're not alone," he said. "Pushing orders from my comfortable office in Geneva is easy, but I'm asking my colleagues to work with the community and I am asking communities to protect themselves." Tedros also said he discourages countries from imposing travel bans, stating there are ways to manage cases without heavily restricted travel restrictions.
The United States announced $80 million in additional aid on Thursday, bringing its total commitment to more than $112 million since the outbreak began, according to the U.S. State Department. The funds are intended to cover personal protective equipment, Ebola test kits, health screening at airports, and contact tracing. The Africa Centres for Disease Control director-general, Dr. Jean Kaseya, said funding pledges that appeared to total nearly $500 million on Monday had fallen to $290 million by Thursday as some partners withdrew or reduced commitments. Kaseya said the Africa CDC hopes to have treatments and a vaccine for the Bundibugyo virus by the end of the year, with some candidates already in development, according to AP.