The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reached 8,665 confirmed cases and 4,178 deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which warned that while transmission has slowed in some locations, new infection hotspots continue to emerge.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus disclosed the figures during a media briefing, noting that response teams had improved disease surveillance and contact tracing efforts across affected communities.

He said health workers were receiving about 2,000 alerts daily, while nearly five million people had been reached through awareness, monitoring and response activities.

Despite progress, Tedros said major challenges remained, particularly because many Ebola deaths were still occurring within communities rather than health facilities.

Kenya Reports First Imported Ebola Case

The WHO chief also confirmed that Kenya had reported its first imported Ebola case linked to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC.

According to Tedros, the patient became ill in the DRC, travelled through Uganda, and later arrived in Nairobi, where he died.

Kenyan health authorities are currently monitoring 55 contacts, including passengers and crew members who travelled with the patient on the journey from Kampala to Nairobi.

The WHO is supporting Kenya’s response efforts, including surveillance, preparedness and contact-tracing activities.

Tedros praised Kenya for quickly notifying WHO under the International Health Regulations (IHR), stressing that early reporting and preparedness measures are essential in preventing wider transmission.

He said restricting travel was less effective than strong health surveillance systems, screening and rapid response mechanisms.

Ebola Response Continues Amid Humanitarian Crisis

The WHO Director-General said the Ebola outbreak is unfolding alongside a prolonged humanitarian crisis in the DRC, creating additional difficulties for health workers.

He explained that although overall transmission trends had improved, new cases were still being detected, including areas close to the border with South Sudan.

Clinical trials for Ebola treatments are ongoing, with more than 600 people enrolled, while preparations are underway for a vaccine trial expected later in October.

Tedros said efforts were being made to ensure that successful interventions would be available fairly to affected populations.

Why the DRC Ebola Situation Remains a Concern

The DRC has experienced repeated Ebola outbreaks due to factors including: movement of populations across borders, remote communities with limited healthcare access, insecurity affecting health operations, delayed reporting of suspected cases, challenges in tracing contacts.

Previous Ebola outbreaks in the country have demonstrated that early detection, community trust and vaccination campaigns are critical to controlling transmission.

WHO Expands Global Health Response

During the briefing, Tedros also highlighted several other global health priorities.

Childhood Obesity

WHO announced new guidance addressing rising obesity among children and adolescents.

The organisation said childhood obesity rates have increased significantly over the past 25 years, with more than 170 million children and adolescents currently living with obesity worldwide.

The guidelines recommend healthier diets, increased physical activity and appropriate medical interventions where necessary.

Maternal Health and Pre-eclampsia

WHO also launched a global roadmap targeting hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia.

The organisation said the condition contributes significantly to maternal and newborn deaths worldwide.

According to WHO, pre-eclampsia is associated with about: 42,000 maternal deaths annually, more than 500,000 stillbirths and newborn deaths each year.

The roadmap aims to improve access to prevention, diagnosis and treatment, especially in countries with limited healthcare resources.

WHO Addresses Mental Health Care Reform

Ahead of World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, WHO said it would focus on the experiences of people living with mental health conditions, particularly those who have previously been institutionalised.

The organisation plans to introduce guidance encouraging countries to shift from institutional-based mental healthcare towards community-based, person-centred services that protect dignity and human rights.

WHO Seeks Information From Russia Over Pneumonia Reports

In another development, WHO said it had requested additional information from Russia following reports concerning the death of a laboratory worker after severe pneumonia.

Tedros said Russian authorities reported that no recent plague cases had been identified in Irkutsk Oblast, while about 200 contacts had been placed under monitoring.

WHO is also seeking clarification regarding reports of another worker with pneumonia of unknown origin.

The organisation said it had offered technical assistance on biosafety, biosecurity and disease management but could not complete a full risk assessment until more information was provided.

Tedros stressed that timely and transparent sharing of health data remains essential for protecting global public health.

Background

Ebola outbreaks have repeatedly affected the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the virus was first identified in the country in 1976.

The disease is caused by the Ebola virus, which spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids.

The DRC has faced multiple outbreaks because of: difficult terrain, remote communities, cross-border population movement, healthcare access challenges, public mistrust during some health emergencies.

The most severe Ebola outbreak in Africa occurred in West Africa between 2014 and 2016, affecting Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and causing more than 11,000 deaths.

Since then, WHO and African health authorities have strengthened surveillance systems, vaccination strategies and outbreak-response networks.