WHO chief in capital of Ebola-hit DR Congo

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, Kinshasa, to bolster efforts against a deadly Ebola outbreak. His visit underscores the international community's concern over the escalating health crisis.

The outbreak, declared on May 15, has already resulted in at least 1,077 suspected cases and 246 deaths, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The highly contagious hemorrhagic fever has spread beyond the DRC's borders, with seven confirmed infections and one death reported in neighboring Uganda. Health authorities are struggling to contain the virus, which is present in three DRC provinces and now Uganda.

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That thing can be stopped.

Tedros was scheduled to meet with Congolese authorities on Friday before heading to the violence-hit Ituri province on Saturday. Ituri, a remote northeastern region, is the epicenter of the country's 17th Ebola outbreak. However, his trip to Ituri has been postponed by a day. The DRC, a vast and impoverished nation, faces significant challenges in combating the epidemic due to limited capacity for laboratory testing and ongoing conflict in its eastern regions.

Insecurity, fueled by armed groups like the Islamic State-affiliated ADF and other militias, hinders access to state services in Ituri. Millions have been displaced by decades of conflict, living in overcrowded camps with poor hygiene conditions, raising alarms about the potential for rapid epidemic spread. The WHO chief's visit aims to reassure the Congolese people, with Tedros stating upon arrival, "I want you to know that you are not alone," and expressing confidence that "That thing can be stopped."

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I want you to know that you are not alone.