WHO Chief Warns of Unknown Transmission Chains, Appeals for $1.3 Billion as DRC Deaths Pass 3,000

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a media briefing on 2 September 2026 that the DRC's Ebola response must be scaled up urgently, warning that up to 80% of new cases are appearing outside known contact lists — 'that means there are chains of transmission we don't know about,' he said, adding, 'until every chain is found and broken, the epidemic will continue; and it will continue to pose a threat to DRC, its neighbours, and the region.' Tedros appealed for accelerated funding toward the DRC government's six-month, $1.3 billion response plan, acknowledging the request comes 'at a time when financing for humanitarian assistance has contracted, and when there are many other competing priorities,' but said 'we can control this epidemic if we choose to.' WHO said it has deployed over 300 experts and 330 tonnes of supplies, expanded lab capacity from 1 to 24 facilities (3,000 tests/day), and grown treatment-bed capacity to 1,300 across 49 facilities, with plans to triple beds to 3,000 within three months. In Bunia, residents described daily life slowing to a crawl under the outbreak: 'I had to flee the area because of the danger looming over us,' said resident Jean-Claude Angwanzia, while transport driver Papy Baraka said, 'The disease puts everyone at risk ... We are afraid.'