The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedro Ghebreyesus has delivered a stark warning regarding the rapidly escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He described it as the third-largest on record and expanding faster than any previous outbreak in the past month.
The briefing also highlighted critical global health concerns including stalled immunization efforts, the growing burden of dementia, and persistent challenges in road safety.
DRC Ebola Outbreak: A Race Against Time
The Ebola epidemic in the DRC has reached alarming levels, with 2073 cases and 796 deaths reported just two months after its declaration.
This pace significantly outstrips the 2018-2019 outbreak, which took over 10 months to reach 2000 confirmed cases.
The province of Ituri remains a major concern, with over 80% of new cases detected outside known contact lists, indicating missed transmission chains.
A significant two-thirds of deaths are occurring within communities, among individuals who never accessed formal
healthcare facilities.
Despite these challenges, the WHO, in collaboration with Africa CDC and other partners, is actively supporting the DRC government to scale up its response.
Treatment capacity has expanded to over 800 beds, laboratory capabilities have increased from one to 16 facilities,
and contact follow-up rates have improved to nearly 80%.
Furthermore, more than 21,000 community workers are undergoing training, and safe and dignified burial practices have seen significant improvements.
Encouraging progress is also being made in the development of vaccines and therapeutics, with clinical trials underway for treatments like MBP134 and the remdesivir, and safety trials for the ChAdOx1 vaccine.
However, the response is severely hampered by active armed conflict, which restricts access to affected areas. A recent attack on a treatment centre in Bunia underscores the volatile environment.
The WHO urgently appeals to the international community for support, citing a shortfall of over US$400 million in the joint WHO-Africa CDC Continental
Preparedness and Response Plan.
The Director-General emphasized that this funding is not charity, but an
investment in national security.
Global Immunization Efforts Stalled
The speech also highlighted the critical state of global immunization. While vaccines have eradicated or controlled once-feared diseases, immunization coverage has stalled globally, even before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic further disrupted routine
immunization systems, reversing previous gains. In 2025, 90% of infants globally received at least one dose of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine, and 85% completed the full
three-dose series.
While slightly higher than 2024, these figures remain below 2019 levels
and within a narrow range observed since 2009.
In response, WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi launched the “Big Catch-Up” initiative, reaching over 14 million of the 34 million “zero-dose” children (those who missed all routine vaccines) over the past three years, delivering more than 125 million doses in 36 countries.
Despite this progress, an estimated 13.5 million “zero-dose” children under one year of age still did not receive a single vaccine in 2025, falling short of the 2030 target of 6.4 million.
A rising number of children also receive only one dose, failing to complete the full immunization schedule and leaving them vulnerable.
The WHO calls for increased investment to fully fund Gavi and achieve the 2030 immunization targets.
Addressing the Growing Burden of Dementia
Dementia and cognitive decline are emerging as significant global health and social challenges, particularly with aging populations.
Over 57 million people worldwide live with dementia, with nearly 10 million new diagnoses annually. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60-70% of cases.
While there is no cure, the risk of dementia can be prevented or delayed by addressing risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol use, social isolation, physical inactivity, air pollution, and by managing high blood pressure, diabetes, and
hearing loss.
The WHO recently published updated guidelines offering evidence-based
recommendations for reducing the risk of dementia and cognitive decline, urging integrated approaches across govts, communities, and healthcare systems.
Road Safety: Progress, But More Needed
Finally, the Director-General announced an upcoming High-Level Meeting on Road Safety at the United Nations, where Member States are expected to adopt a political declaration committing to national road safety strategies with clear targets and budgets.
The declaration will also include commitments to establish road safety agencies, improve data collection, enforce strong laws, and ensure infrastructure and vehicles meet safety
standards.
A new WHO report, to be released next week, will highlight encouraging progress in road safety but also underscore that current efforts are insufficient to meet the global target of a 50% reduction in deaths and serious injuries by 2030.