The head of the World Health Organization warned Monday that a fast-moving Ebola outbreak spanning the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda is outpacing response efforts, with officials now reporting 220 suspected deaths.
Addressing an online meeting of the African Union, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a delay in detecting cases has left responders "playing catch-up," and he cautioned that the epidemic is likely to worsen before conditions improve.
Tedros announced he would travel to Congo on Tuesday alongside Chikwe Ihekweazu, the senior WHO official responsible for health emergencies, to assess the situation on the ground in the outbreak's epicenter.
Earlier the same day, Uganda confirmed two additional cases, bringing its total to seven, while Tedros noted that other nations bordering Congo face elevated risk and must act immediately to prepare.
The WHO has already declared the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola a public health emergency of international concern, citing the challenges posed by ongoing insecurity in Congo's Ituri and North Kivu provinces and the absence of approved vaccines for this particular virus variant.
According to the Reuters report filed from the region, the combination of rapid spread and limited tools has complicated containment measures that proved more effective during previous Ebola events involving different strains.
Health authorities in both affected countries continue to trace contacts and isolate suspected cases, though Tedros emphasized that the current pace of transmission has strained existing response capacity.
Officials said neighboring countries should heighten surveillance at borders and ensure laboratories are equipped to handle potential samples without delay.
The Bundibugyo strain, first identified in Uganda in 2007, differs from the more common Zaire strain that has driven most recent outbreaks, leaving responders without the same vaccine options that helped curb earlier epidemics.
Tedros's remarks came as Congo grapples with simultaneous security concerns that have periodically disrupted vaccination campaigns and treatment centers in the affected provinces.
Ugandan health officials reported the new cases in areas near the Congolese border, prompting cross-border coordination meetings to align testing and isolation protocols.
International partners, including the WHO, are mobilizing additional personnel and supplies, though Tedros indicated that more resources will be needed if the outbreak continues its current trajectory.
Public health experts monitoring the situation have stressed the importance of clear communication with communities to encourage early reporting of symptoms such as fever, vomiting, and bleeding.
As of Monday, no new cases had been confirmed outside the two primary nations, but Tedros reiterated that vigilance remains essential given the virus's incubation period and potential for undetected movement across porous borders.
Further updates are expected following Tedros's visit to Congo, where he plans to meet with local health workers and government leaders to review ongoing operations.