A sanitation worker from the Bunia city government sprays chlorine to disinfect the central market, as Ituri province continues to combat an Ebola outbreak, in Bunia, Congo, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo: AP/Moses Sawasawa)
A sanitation worker from the Bunia city government sprays chlorine to disinfect the central market, as Ituri province continues to combat an Ebola outbreak, in Bunia, Congo, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo: AP/Moses Sawasawa)

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X that Ituri province, home to nearly five million people, has been designated the epicenter of the outbreak. The province has been plagued by prolonged conflict, leaving about 25% of its population in need of humanitarian assistance and forcing around 20% to flee their homes.

This is severely impeding efforts to scale up Ebola contact tracing and identify infections early enough to provide supportive care. Tedros emphasized that delivering a comprehensive package of healthcare services is essential -- not only to meet current urgent health needs, but also to build the trust that is critical for an effective long-range Ebola response.

Also on Sunday, the DR Congo Ministry of Communication confirmed having 904 suspected Ebola cases and 119 suspected Ebola-related deaths, mainly in Ituri province. The outbreak has also spread to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces and neighboring Uganda.