The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that five patients have recovered from a rare strain of Ebola during his visit to Bunia in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicentre of the ongoing outbreak.

 

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the announcement while inaugurating a new Ebola treatment centre in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province. He also emphasised the critical role of community involvement in controlling the spread of the disease.

 

The recoveries mark the first documented cases of confirmed Bundibugyo Ebola patients surviving during the current outbreak. According to the WHO, the latest official figures show 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths linked to the outbreak. In neighbouring Uganda, authorities have confirmed nine cases and one death.

 

Earlier, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned that the virus continues to spread faster than response efforts, despite improvements in healthcare coordination and the arrival of additional aid. The organisation called for an immediate expansion of testing, quicker deployment of health workers, and uninterrupted access to essential medical supplies.