The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) reaffirm their robust collaboration and shared dedication to safeguarding the health and welfare of the people of Ituri Province and the entire nation, following a joint mission to Bunia led by Dr. Samuel Roger Kamba, Minister of Health, Mr. Patrick Muyaya Katembwe, Minister of Communication and Media, and a visit by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
This high-level mission occurs during a difficult period, as the country addresses an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus. The Ministry of Health reports a quickly changing situation, with cases and deaths reported in multiple health zones across Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu. The Government, backed by WHO and partners, is enhancing surveillance, laboratory testing, and patient care to halt transmission as swiftly as possible.
The DRC Government is firmly leading a comprehensive national response, closely cooperating with provincial authorities in Ituri and neighboring provinces. WHO, together with the broader United Nations system and health and humanitarian partners, is fully dedicated to supporting these initiatives. Collectively, DRC authorities, WHO, and partners are working to improve coordination, secure additional resources, and ensure that life-saving interventions reach affected communities promptly and fairly.
Central to this response is the acknowledgment that communities are essential to the solution. Success hinges on the trust, involvement, and leadership of local communities. National and provincial authorities, with support from WHO and partners, are intensifying engagement with community leaders, women's groups, youth representatives, religious figures, and the private sector to better grasp local concerns and collaboratively develop culturally suitable and effective solutions.
Although the Bundibugyo strain poses extra challenges, such as the lack of a licensed vaccine or specific treatment, established public health measures remain effective in reducing transmission and supporting potential full recovery. The Ministry of Health, WHO, and partners are working to quickly conduct randomized control trials for candidate vaccines and treatments.
Ongoing challenges include early detection and isolation of cases, contact tracing, safe and dignified burials, robust infection prevention and control in health facilities, and strong community awareness. The Government and WHO call on all communities to continue adopting protective behaviors, including regular hand hygiene, seeking early care at health facilities, and sharing accurate information.
The DRC brings unparalleled experience to this response, having successfully contained multiple previous Ebola outbreaks. This expertise, along with strong political leadership at the highest state level and renewed international solidarity, provides a solid foundation for managing the current outbreak.
Both parties stress that the outbreak response must maintain primary health care and essential services while strengthening long-term health system resilience. Investments made today in laboratories, health workers, surveillance systems, and essential services will leave a lasting legacy for the people of Ituri and the DRC as a whole.
We sincerely thank our international partners for the support already provided to response operations, and we encourage continued solidarity to bring this outbreak under control. Cooperation between countries must also ensure that borders remain open and that entry controls do not hinder the flow of urgently needed medical supplies and personnel.
Together, DRC authorities, WHO, Africa CDC, and partners are working to strengthen coordination, mobilize additional resources, and ensure that life-saving interventions reach affected communities quickly and fairly.