The World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched 11 tonnes of essential medical equipment from its regional emergency hub in Nairobi to bolster the Ebola outbreak response in Ituri province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
According to an official statement released on May 19, WHO indicated that this deployment forms part of a rapid response initiative designed to contain the transmission of the Ebola Bundibugyo virus following the outbreak’s declaration.
Upon the outbreak’s declaration on 15 May 2026, WHO acted promptly, transporting 11.5 metric tons of critical medical supplies and equipment within 72 hours from its facilities in Kinshasa and regional emergency response centers in Dakar and Nairobi,” WHO stated.
According to the organization, the shipment consists of personal protective equipment, medical kits, tents, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) materials.
WHO has been working in collaboration with partner organizations and the private sector to expedite emergency supply delivery, including support from the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), which offered air and ground logistical assistance, while Ethiopian Airlines modified flights to accelerate the cargo’s transit from Nairobi.
Furthermore, over 35 WHO and health professionals have been deployed to the affected regions to assist with disease surveillance, clinical care, infection prevention, and community engagement. Additional teams are being activated as the response intensifies.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently managing its 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus was initially recognized in 1976, with WHO reporting 80 fatalities and 246 suspected infections in Ituri province as of May 16.
The agency has highlighted that the Bundibugyo strain lacks an approved vaccine or specific treatment, with potential mortality rates reaching up to 50 percent, rendering early detection, supportive care, stringent infection control, and contact tracing essential.
The situation has been complicated by Uganda also documenting confirmed cases associated with cross-border movement from DRC, including two infections and one fatality in Kampala.
Kenya is now among the nations placed on alert following WHO’s designation of the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda as a public health emergency of international concern.
In response, Kenya has established a National Ebola Preparedness Team and elevated the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) to high alert status to coordinate real-time surveillance and response activities.
WHO has cautioned that although the outbreak has not yet reached the threshold for a global pandemic, nations sharing porous borders with the DRC confront an elevated risk of transmission.