The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are lagging, despite improved testing, as the virus spreads across the region and raises global health concerns. With 344 confirmed cases and 60 deaths in DRC, and 15 cases in Uganda, the Bundibugyo strain—lacking a vaccine or approved treatment—has exposed systemic vulnerabilities in response infrastructure and cross-border coordination. Source 1
WHO: “Estamos rezagados” as Testing Improves, Contact Tracing Lags
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged that the DRC’s Ebola response is “retrasados” (lagging), even as diagnostic capabilities have advanced. “We are catching up,” he said, but emphasized the need for 90% contact tracing coverage to stem the outbreak, a target far below the current 45%. The virus, which has been spreading in Ituri, Kivu del Norte, and Kivu del Sur since mid-May, has been exacerbated by armed conflict, displacement, and limited access to affected areas. Source 1
The WHO’s warnings come as Uganda, a neighboring country, reports 15 confirmed cases, including one death. Ugandan officials have pledged to isolate all known contacts of Ebola patients, stating, “Uganda is still safe. You can come to Uganda and return to your country without Ebola.” Source 2 However, the OMS notes that 116 suspected cases remain in DRC, with experts warning that the true scale of the outbreak is difficult to gauge due to limited testing and access. Source 1
Uganda’s Tightened Borders and International Fears
Uganda has closed its borders to travelers from DRC and South Sudan, while the U.S. has restricted entry from the region. The DRC’s Ministry of Health declared the outbreak on May 15, but the virus had already been spreading for weeks in areas with weak health infrastructure. “The key is prevention and infection control,” said Charles Olaro, Uganda’s director of health services, as the country grapples with its own cases. Source 2
International organizations have criticized border closures for driving movement through informal routes, where health checks are inadequate. Ugochi Daniels, deputy director of the International Organization for Migration, warned, “Viruses don’t stop at borders, and neither should our response.” Source 2 The DRC’s ongoing conflicts—including M23 rebels and the Islamic State-linked Fuerzas Democráticas Aliadas—have further complicated containment efforts, with communities often resisting health interventions. Source 1
Dire Conditions in DRC’s Epicenter
In Mongbwalu, a town in DRC’s Haut-Ubangi province, healthcare workers face a crisis of resource scarcity. At a local hospital, staff lack basic protective gear, and patients are treated in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions. “The virus has been spreading for months with almost no obstacles,” said Dr. Alex Bogole, a physician at the hospital. “And this is the best we can do?” Source 4
Dr. Richard Lokudu, 38, a local doctor, described the situation as “completely overwhelmed.” With seven hospital workers already dead from suspected Ebola and limited access to testing, the outbreak has become a “war without weapons,” as one aid worker put it. Source 4 The lack of a vaccine or treatment has left communities in despair, with only a handful of survivors offering faint hope. <a href="https://www.mcall.com/2026/06/03/oms-estamos-rezagados-en-el-brote-de-bola-en-el-congo-aunque-mejoran
