WHO Chief Visits Congo Ebola Outbreak Zone

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited the town of Bunia in Ituri province, one of the worst-affected areas of the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He called on local communities to play a key role in fighting the disease.

"The communities understand the problems better and they know the solution as well", Tedros said, adding that local involvement was essential alongside support from international organizations and the Congolese government.

Congolese authorities had recorded 1,028 suspected cases by Friday. The WHO has warned that it has so far raised only about a third of the funds needed to contain the outbreak.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) warned that the current outbreak is spreading at an unprecedented rate, with more cases reported in a shorter period than at any point since the epidemic was declared. The organization also cautioned that medical teams are insufficient in number and that international assistance remains limited.

(reuters, lud)