Ebola Spread Shows Signs of Decline in Ituri Province—WHO

(MENAFN) Ebola transmission is beginning to slow in some of the areas most affected by the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province, according to the World Health Organization, although the wider epidemic continues to expand.

“We are now starting to see encouraging signs that we are gaining ground,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva.

Tedros said the number of new infections has fallen in the hardest-hit areas of Ituri. He also noted that South Kivu has recorded no new cases since May, while more than 1,700 people have recovered from the disease.

The outbreak has remained largely concentrated in northeastern DRC during the past four months, with the exception of a limited outbreak in neighboring Uganda that was “swiftly stopped,” Tedros said.

Despite these developments, the overall situation remains serious. More than 7,200 Ebola cases and over 3,500 deaths have been reported across seven provinces.

Ituri alone recorded roughly 300 new infections and 160 deaths over the past week, representing nearly half of the countrywide total.

The situation is also worsening in North Kivu, where the number of weekly cases has almost doubled over the past two weeks, increasing from around 100 to more than 200.

“The key indicators are not yet improving as they must,” said Tedros. "The response will need to be sustained and strengthened over many demanding months."

MENAFN17092026000045017640ID1111678218