An American doctor who tested positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been transferred to Germany for medical care, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday.
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus told delegates at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva that the doctor was working with a medical missionary group in eastern Congo before contracting the virus.
WHO said it is working with authorities in the DRC, Uganda and the United States to contain the outbreak. Ghebreyesus said there were more than 500 suspected cases and 130 suspected deaths beyond the confirmed cases, and warned of concern over further spread and deaths.
Officials are intensifying surveillance, contact tracing and laboratory testing as suspected infections rise. Cases have been detected in urban areas including Kampala, Uganda, and Goma in eastern Congo, raising fears of cross-border transmission. Several health workers have also died, indicating transmission within healthcare facilities.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. WHO said it has deployed staff, supplies, equipment and funds to support the response, and approved an additional $3.4 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies, bringing total funding to $3.9 million.
Ghebreyesus noted that insecurity and population displacement in Ituri province, where conflict has intensified since late 2025, could complicate containment efforts.
