WHO chief meets Congo president amid Ebola outbreak

Key facts

• WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with DRC President Felix Tshisekedi.
• The meeting focused on the country's Ebola outbreak.
• An aid agency warned the outbreak is likely larger than official figures suggest.
• Health officials acknowledge challenges in early detection, isolation, contact tracing, and burials.
• The WHO and Congolese government are working to improve surveillance, testing, and patient care.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing a significant Ebola outbreak, described as the third-largest on record. The virus has persisted undetected for weeks, complicating efforts to control its spread. This situation has prompted high-level discussions between the World Health Organization and the Congolese government to enhance surveillance, testing, and patient care, while international aid agencies highlight concerns about the true scale of the epidemic.