The World Health Organization has issued an urgent appeal for a ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, warning that ongoing armed conflict is severely hampering efforts to contain a growing Ebola outbreak that has already recorded nearly 1,000 suspected cases.

In a direct public message released Thursday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on armed groups operating in affected areas to temporarily halt fighting to allow medical teams safe access to vulnerable communities.

“People are dying from Ebola who do not have to die,” Tedros said. “A ceasefire, even a temporary one, would save lives.”

According to figures cited by WHO and health partners, the outbreak has resulted in nearly 1,000 suspected infections and at least 220 suspected deaths as of May 27.

Health officials say the outbreak involves the Ebola Bundibugyo strain — a rarer variant for which there are currently no approved vaccines or targeted treatments. Previous outbreaks in Congo were largely linked to the Ebola Zaire strain, which benefited from existing vaccines and therapeutics.

Tedros described the current emergency as “the most complex” Ebola outbreak the country has faced, unfolding amid active conflict, population displacement, and repeated attacks on healthcare infrastructure.

Conflict Complicates Containment

The outbreak is concentrated in parts of eastern Congo where insecurity has long disrupted humanitarian operations. WHO officials say health workers are operating under constant threat, while mistrust among local communities continues to slow contact tracing and treatment efforts.

Tedros referenced previous Ebola operations in Beni and current challenges in Ituri, where violence has complicated the movement of medical personnel and supplies.

“Our health workers were attacked. Clinics were targeted,” he said. “Lives were lost that we might have saved.”

WHO says supportive care and early treatment remain critical tools in reducing mortality, even without approved therapies specific to the Bundibugyo strain.

Officials are also urging residents to report symptoms early and cooperate with response teams conducting surveillance and safe burial operations.

Public Trust Emerges as Central Challenge

The WHO chief acknowledged deep public skepticism toward health authorities, saying trust “must be earned.”

Public resistance, misinformation, and fear have repeatedly undermined Ebola responses in eastern Congo during previous outbreaks, particularly in conflict-affected regions where communities often distrust both government and international agencies.

Tedros said community engagement would be essential to containing transmission.

“When communities felt respected and heard, things began to change,” he said. “Together, we managed to contain the outbreak.”

Why This Outbreak Matters

This marks the 17th recorded Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country that has experienced recurring epidemics due to ecological exposure and fragile health infrastructure.

However, health experts warn the current combination of armed conflict, displacement, and a less-understood Ebola strain significantly raises the risk of wider spread if response operations are interrupted.

International health agencies are now racing to strengthen surveillance systems, treatment centers, and cross-border monitoring in neighboring regions.