WHO says Congo Ebola outbreak can still be brought under control within three months

GENEVA – The World Health Organisation (WHO) remains optimistic that the current Ebola outbreak in Congo can be contained within three months, according to Thierno Balde, the agency's incident manager. Balde shared this hope during a press conference in Geneva, stating that if the necessary resources are available, it is feasible to bring the virus under control in the next three months. However, recent developments suggest the outbreak has worsened, spreading to a sixth province.

Balde acknowledged that resources are currently insufficient to match the demand, with the WHO having raised approximately 60% of the US$115 million needed for the Ebola response. Despite this shortfall, efforts to control the outbreak are intensifying. In the past two weeks alone, an additional 400 beds have been added to treatment facilities.

The WHO's Emergency Committee will convene on Tuesday to further discuss the situation, which was declared a global health emergency by the UN agency on May 17.