TEDROS CALLS FOR CEASEFIRE TO CONTAIN EBOLA OUTBREAK

GENEVA, MAY 27 /SRNA-Reuters/ - The head of the World Health Organization /WHO/ Tedros Adhanom ​Ghebreyesus called for a ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in order to contain an Ebola outbreak.

Tedros warned that ongoing fighting was driving mass displacement and spreading the disease in overcrowded camps.

"Eastern DRC now faces a catastrophic collision of disease and conflict with the Ebola outbreak in Ituri province outpacing the response," said Tedros, who is due to travel to the region this week.

He emphasized that medical teams cannot build community trust while bombs are falling.

"We urge all warring parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire to contain this outbreak," he said on X.

Earlier this month, WHO declared an emergency of international concern, amid appearance of Bundibugyo strain of Ebola and a sharp rise in the number of cases.

Over 900 suspected cases and over 200 suspected deaths have so far been reported in three provinces in eastern Congo including the North Kivu province, held by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, and South Kivu province, controlled by rebel group the Alliance Fleuve Congo.