WHO ramps up support to the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ebola outbreak response

Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: World Health Organization **Kinshasa—** The World Health Organization (WHO) is intensifying efforts and supporting the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s government to rapidly establish and scale up critical measures to control and halt the outbreak of Ebola in the country’s north-eastern Ituri Province Following the declaration of the outbreak on May 15, 2026, WHO acted rapidly, delivering 11.5 tonnes of vital medical supplies and equipment within 72 hours from facilities in Kinshasa and from its Regional Emergency Hubs in Dakar and Nairobi. More than 35 experts and first responders from WHO and the Ministry of Health have been deployed to the field. Additional teams are being deployed as the response intensifies to reinforce key measures including disease surveillance for early detection; clinical care; infection prevention and control; and engaging communities to ensure public health measures are observed. Collaboration with partner organizations and the private sector has been crucial in the timely delivery of the emergency supplies. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has provided essential airlift support for transporting supplies from Nairobi and facilitated ground access to enhance operational effectiveness. “The collaboration with MONUSCO has been pivotal in ensuring a swift response. Their ability to provide airlift support significantly enhances our logistics capabilities, allowing us to respond to the needs of the community effectively,” said Adama Thiam, Head of Regional Emergency Operations and Logistics at WHO Africa. In addition, negotiations with Ethiopian Airlines enabled reprioritization of their flights to ensure urgent delivery of cargo, demonstrating the commitment...

Original source: Relief Web