Archive · 18 Aug 2026
WHO: Congo Ebola outbreak controllable within three months
Ebola is a very serious sickness that can make people very ill, and it is spreading in a country in Africa called the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Many people have gotten sick, and more than 2,300 have died.
A group called the World Health Organization, or WHO, helps countries fight diseases.
A WHO leader said that if the group gets enough money and helpers, the outbreak could be brought under control in about three months.
However, other health experts are not so sure, because the virus is still spreading to new places, even a sixth province.
They say many sick people cannot be connected to known patients, which makes the disease hard to track.
There are also problems like fighting in the area, not enough vaccines, and delays in finding sick people.
Health workers are adding more hospital beds and sending more disease trackers to help.
The WHO's emergency committee is meeting to decide what to do next.
Everyone agrees people are working day and night to try to stop the outbreak.
WHO incident manager Thierno Balde said the Ebola outbreak in Congo can be brought under control within three months if the necessary resources are available.
The outbreak is Congo's worst of 17 and the second-deadliest on record, having killed at least 2,325 people.
The WHO has raised about 60% of the $115 million it is seeking for the Ebola response, with resources currently lagging requirements.
Officials told Reuters that 70-80% of new cases have no known link to patients, suggesting the virus is still spreading unchecked in many areas.
The WHO Emergency Committee is meeting to decide whether to extend the public health emergency of international concern declared on May 17.
- Who
- World Health Organization officials, including incident manager Thierno Balde, Africa CDC's Dr Wessam Mankoula, and health workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- What
- An Ebola outbreak in Congo, the country's worst of 17 and the second-deadliest on record, which has killed at least 2,325 people and that the WHO says can still be controlled within three months.
- When
- Reported on August 18; declared a public health emergency of international concern on May 17, with the WHO Emergency Committee meeting that Tuesday.
- Where
- Democratic Republic of Congo, including Bunia; the outbreak has expanded to a sixth province.
- Why
- Containment efforts face delayed detection, overwhelmed surveillance teams, armed conflict, and a lack of vaccines and treatments for the rare Bundibugyo species of the virus.
WHO: outbreak controllable within three months
Officials: outbreak far from under control
Timeline for control
WHO: outbreak controllable within three months
WHO incident manager Thierno Balde said that with the necessary resources, the outbreak can be brought under control within three months.
Officials: outbreak far from under control
Dr Wessam Mankoula of Africa CDC said it will not be over in a few weeks or even months, and officials noted the outbreak is a long way from being under control.
Scale of unchecked spread
WHO: outbreak controllable within three months
Containment efforts are ramping up, with 400 extra beds added in the past two weeks and more epidemiologists being deployed to trace contacts.
Officials: outbreak far from under control
Other officials said 70-80% of new cases have no known link to patients, meaning the virus is still spreading unchecked and its true magnitude is not yet known.
Current conditions
WHO: outbreak controllable within three months
Control in three months is possible if the required resources are made available.
Officials: outbreak far from under control
Resources are lagging requirements, funding stands at about 60% of the $115 million target, and the outbreak has worsened, expanding to a sixth province.
- Deaths
- At least 2,325
- Outbreak rank
- Congo's worst of 17 outbreaks; second-deadliest on record
- Spread
- Expanded to a sixth province
- Funding
- About 60% of the $115 million sought has been raised
- Unlinked cases
- 70-80% of new cases have no known link to patients
- Hospital beds
- 400 added in the past two weeks
- Virus species
- Rare Bundibugyo species
- PHEIC declared
- May 17