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The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached 8,665 confirmed cases and 4,178 deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which warned that although transmission has slowed in some places, new outbreaks of infection continue to emerge.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus disclosed the data during a media briefing, noting that response teams have improved disease surveillance and contact tracing efforts in affected communities.
It said health workers are receiving around 2,000 alerts a day, while nearly five million people have been reached through awareness, monitoring and response activities.
Despite the progress, Tedros said major challenges remain, particularly because many Ebola deaths still occur within communities rather than health facilities.
The WHO chief also confirmed that Kenya has reported its first imported case of Ebola linked to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC.
According to Tedros, the patient fell ill in the DRC, traveled through Uganda and then arrived in Nairobi, where he died.
Kenyan health authorities are currently tracking 55 contacts, including passengers and crew members who traveled with the patient on the voyage from Kampala to Nairobi.
WHO supports Kenya’s response efforts, including surveillance, preparedness and contact tracing activities.
Tedros praised Kenya for quickly notifying the WHO under the International Health Regulations (IHR), stressing that timely reporting and preparedness measures are essential to prevent wider transmission.
He said restricting travel is less effective than strong health surveillance, screening and rapid response mechanisms.
The WHO director-general said the Ebola epidemic is developing alongside a protracted humanitarian crisis in the DRC, creating further challenges for health workers.
He explained that although overall transmission trends have improved, new cases are still being detected, including in areas close to the border with South Sudan.
Clinical trials for Ebola treatments are underway, with more than 600 people enrolled, while preparations are underway for a vaccine trial scheduled for the end of October.
Tedros said efforts are being made to ensure successful interventions are available equitably to affected populations.
The DRC has been the scene of repeated Ebola epidemics due to factors such as: movement of populations across borders, remote communities with limited access to healthcare, insecurity affecting healthcare operations, delayed reporting of suspected cases, difficulties in contact tracing.
Previous Ebola outbreaks in the country have shown that early diagnosis, community trust and vaccination campaigns are key to controlling transmission.
During the briefing, Tedros also highlighted several other global health priorities.
Childhood obesity
WHO has announced new guidelines to address rising obesity among children and adolescents.
The organization said childhood obesity rates have increased significantly over the past 25 years, with more than 170 million children and adolescents currently living with obesity worldwide.
The guidelines recommend healthier diets, increased physical activity and appropriate medical interventions where necessary.
Maternal health and preeclampsia
WHO has also launched a global roadmap targeting hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, including preeclampsia.
The organization said the condition contributes significantly to maternal and neonatal deaths worldwide.
According to the WHO, preeclampsia is associated with approximately: 42,000 maternal deaths each year, more than 500,000 stillbirths and neonatal deaths each year.
The roadmap aims to improve access to prevention, diagnosis and treatment, especially in countries with limited healthcare resources.
Ahead of World Mental Health Day on October 10, the WHO said it will focus on the experiences of people living with mental health conditions, particularly those who have been previously institutionalized.
The organization plans to introduce guidelines that encourage countries to move from institution-based mental healthcare to community-based, person-centered services that protect dignity and human rights.
In another development, the WHO said it had requested further information from Russia following reports of the death of a laboratory worker after severe pneumonia.
Tedros said Russian authorities reported that no recent cases of plague had been identified in Irkutsk Oblast, while around 200 contacts were placed under monitoring.
WHO is also seeking clarification regarding reports of another worker suffering from pneumonia of unknown origin.
The organization said it offered technical assistance on biosafety, biosecurity and disease management, but could not complete a full risk assessment until more information was provided.
Tedros stressed that timely and transparent sharing of health data remains essential to protect global public health.
Ebola epidemics have struck the Democratic Republic of Congo repeatedly since the virus was first identified in the country in 1976.
The disease is caused by the Ebola virus, which spreads through contact with infected body fluids.
The DRC has faced multiple epidemics due to: difficult terrain, remote communities, cross-border population movements, difficulty accessing healthcare, public mistrust during some health emergencies.
Africa’s most serious Ebola outbreak occurred in West Africa between 2014 and 2016, affecting Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and causing more than 11,000 deaths.
Since then, WHO and African health authorities have strengthened surveillance systems, vaccination strategies and outbreak response networks.
