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Tuesday, 18 August 2026 WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the second IHR Emergency Committee meeting on Bundibugyo virus disease epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – 18 August 2026Chair, Professor Lucille Blumberg, Members of the Emergency Committee, dear colleagues and friends, Thank you once again for your commitment to this Committee. I also thank the representatives of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and France for joining us today. Three months ago, I determined that the epidemic of Bundibugyo virus disease in the DRC constituted a public health emergency of international concern. Since then, the epidemic has spread rapidly, and the risk of further national and international spread remains high. This is now the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded, and it is moving faster than any previous Ebola outbreak. That’s why I call it unprecedented speed. It is being fueled by insecurity and displacement, and intense population movement along roads, rivers and mining routes. Almost 5000 people have now been infected and more than 2,300 have died, across six provinces and 55 health zones. We must be frank: the epidemic is far from being under control. It had a big head start, and we are still playing catch-up. What concerns me most is where people are dying: at home, in their communities, outside treatment centres, and outside known contact lists. Every death like that points to a chain of transmission we have not yet found. Until every chain is found and broken, the epidemic will continue. The risk does not stop at the DRC’s borders. Uganda has already stopped transmission after the initial spillover, and I commend the government and people of Uganda for their decisive response. But last month, a traveller carried the virus to France. Borders may slow a response; they do not stop a virus. Under the leadership of the Government of the DRC, WHO, Africa CDC and partners we are scaling up every part of the response. We are strengthening community-based surveillance; expanding treatment capacity; supporting safe and dignified burials; working with communities to build trust and ownership; and advancing clinical trials for vaccines and therapeutics. For the first time, two vaccines designed specifically against Bundibugyo virus have entered human trials. A separate vaccine has shown cross-protection in animal studies, and we are moving it toward a phase three trial. The WHO-sponsored PARTNERS treatment trial has now enrolled 100 patients. But the response still needs faster data sharing, enhanced surveillance, sustained financing, access and security, and stronger cross-border coordination. We must also remember that Ebola is only one threat the people of DRC face, including maternal mortality, diarrheal disease, pneumonia, malaria, cholera and more. Even as we fight to end this epidemic, we cannot allow the response to disrupt access to other essential health services. Once again, thank you all for your time and expertise. I look forward to your assessment of the situation, and to your advice on the temporary recommendations needed to stop this epidemic, and prevent it spreading to other parts of DRC and other countries. I thank you. 
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Tuesday, August 18, 2026
WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the second IHR Emergency Committee meeting on Bundibugyo virus disease epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – 18 August 2026
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