Ebola Death Toll in Congo Rises to 131 as WHO Warns of Rapid Spread

The death toll from the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 131 as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the virus is spreading rapidly across eastern parts of the country.

According to Reuters, health authorities have recorded more than 500 suspected cases linked to the outbreak with dozens of confirmed infections reported across multiple health zones in Ituri province.

The WHO said it is deeply concerned about the speed and scale of the outbreak, particularly as cases have started appearing in densely populated urban centers, increasing the risk of wider regional transmission.

The current outbreak has been linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a variant for which there is currently no approved vaccine or targeted treatment, complicating containment efforts by health authorities.

Reuters reported that the WHO has begun deploying additional emergency supplies to Congo, including protective equipment for health workers, laboratory materials and medical response kits aimed at improving testing and surveillance operations.

The outbreak has also spread beyond rural communities with cases reported in key urban locations including Goma in Congo and Kampala in neighboring Uganda, heightening fears of cross-border infections across Central and East Africa.

In response to the escalating crisis, the WHO recently declared the Congo-Uganda Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Health officials said the emergency declaration is intended to mobilize international funding, strengthen border surveillance and accelerate containment efforts before the outbreak spreads further across the region.

Authorities in Uganda and Rwanda have already tightened border screening measures while the United States introduced temporary travel restrictions connected to affected outbreak zones.

Reuters also reported that an American missionary working in Congo tested positive for Ebola and was evacuated to Germany for treatment. Several other foreign aid workers are currently under observation.

The WHO warned that weak healthcare infrastructure, insecurity in affected communities and limited access to treatment facilities remain major challenges to controlling the outbreak.

International health experts have also raised concerns that cuts to global health funding may have weakened disease surveillance systems in the region, contributing to delayed detection and response efforts.

Congo has experienced multiple Ebola outbreaks since the virus was first identified near the Ebola River in 1976. The current outbreak marks the country’s 17th recorded Ebola epidemic.

Health authorities continue to urge residents to report symptoms early, avoid contact with infected persons and cooperate with health officials conducting tracing and isolation measures.

The WHO said rapid international support remains critical to preventing the outbreak from escalating into a wider regional health crisis.