WHO chief calls for reconsideration of travel bans as DR Congo battles Ebola outbreak

By  News On Air   May 31, 2026

World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged countries that have imposed travel bans or closed borders in response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda to reconsider such measures, saying they can hinder response efforts. 

Speaking in Bunia in eastern Congo, the epicentre of the outbreak, he said such restrictions can make outbreak control more difficult and undermine transparency and trust, which are essential for saving lives. 

Tedros said his visit to Bunia is aimed at engaging directly with affected communities and strengthening support for response efforts in the hardest-hit areas.

Health authorities in the DRC have reported over 900 suspected Ebola cases and more than 220 suspected deaths, while neighbouring Uganda has confirmed nine cases, including new infections in the capital Kampala. 

Officials say the outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment, although patients can recover with timely and quality medical care.