WHO Calls Emergency Meeting As Ebola Death Toll Reaches 131

The death toll from the latest Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo has risen to an estimated 131 people from 513 suspected cases, according to Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba.

The growing outbreak has prompted the World Health Organization to organise an emergency committee meeting to discuss possible vaccine options and response measures.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was deeply concerned about the speed and scale of the outbreak, which has already spread into neighboring Uganda.

The WHO has officially declared the epidemic a public health emergency of international concern. Officials say the outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

The epicentre of the outbreak is located in Ituri province in northeastern Congo near the borders with Uganda and South Sudan. Authorities fear the movement of people across borders, especially in mining regions, could accelerate the spread of the virus.

Health officials reported that the virus has already spread to neighboring provinces located nearly 200 kilometers away from the outbreak’s origin.

Experts meeting under the WHO emergency committee are expected to evaluate vaccine options and determine the best response strategy. Although no approved vaccine exists for the Bundibugyo strain, researchers are examining whether the Ebola vaccine Ervebo may provide partial protection based on previous animal studies.

Dr. Mosoka Fallah from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said experts would review available scientific evidence before making recommendations.

Meanwhile, WHO officials confirmed that additional medical supplies, including personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, are being delivered to affected regions in Congo to strengthen emergency response efforts.

The Ebola virus has caused multiple deadly outbreaks across Africa over the past decades, with thousands of deaths recorded since it was first identified.