WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the High-level cross-border consultative meeting on Bundibugyo virus disease risk – 17 August 2026

Your Excellency President Faustin-Archange Touadéra,

Your Excellency Prime Minister Félix Moloua,

Honourable Ministers,

My colleague, WHO Regional Director Professor Janabi,

Distinguished delegates, colleagues and friends,

Good afternoon, bonjour. I'm very sorry that I can't be with you in person today in Bangui.

I thank Your Excellency President Touadéra and the Government and people of the Central African Republic for bringing us all together.

Three months ago, I declared the outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease in DRC a public health emergency of international concern.

Not only a national emergency for DRC - an international emergency.

We immediately saw the risks for the epidemic to spread to other countries on the continent, and potentially to other regions.

Indeed, at that time, the epidemic had already spilled over into Uganda.

I commend the government and people of Uganda for their decisive response, which helped to stop transmission in that country, and bring the outbreak under control.

But the risk remains for all neighbouring countries.

Last week I was in DRC, which was my second visit during this outbreak, and I very much appreciate the leadership and commitment of the government to the fight against the outbreak.

This is already the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded, and it is spreading faster than any before it.

More than 4600 people have been infected and almost 2200 have died - now across six provinces and 54 health zones.

The outbreak had a head start, and we are still playing catch-up.

What worries me most is where people are dying - at home, in their communities, outside treatment centres, and outside known contact lists.

Every death like that signals a chain of transmission we have not yet found.

Until each chain is broken, the outbreak continues - and the risk does not stop at the DRC's borders.

As I mentioned earlier, the outbreak had already spilled over to Uganda before we knew about it.

And just last month, a traveller carried the virus as far as France.

Borders slow a response; they do not stop a virus.

That is the reality your five countries share.

And Ebola is not the only health threat that crosses borders.

Along the same rivers, roads and border communities, cholera is also moving, exploiting the same weaknesses in surveillance, access to care, water and sanitation, and cross border coordination.

In the Central African Republic and elsewhere in the Region, cholera is reminding us of something important: pathogens may be different, but vulnerability often follows the same routes.

We face many challenges, and together with Africa CDC and other partners, WHO is supporting the government to scale up every part of the response, with the primary goal of interrupting transmission.

We are strengthening community-based surveillance;

We are tripling treatment capacity;

We're working with communities to build trust and ownership;

We have deployed more than 200 experts and shipped 300 tonnes of supplies;

And we are advancing clinical trials of therapeutics and vaccines.

For the first time, two vaccines designed specifically against Bundibugyo virus have entered human trials.

A separate vaccine has shown cross-protection in animal studies, and we are moving it toward a phase three trial.

Our PARTNERS treatment trial has now enrolled 100 patients.

If we are to stop this outbreak, we need the cooperation of all governments and all partners, working together as one.

In particular, I have three asks:

First, we need zero-delay data sharing, so alerts, genomic data and contact tracing move instantly across your border teams.

Second, we need synchronized screening at every crossing - protecting people without halting trade.

And third, we need shared accountability and financing: pooled resources, one voice to donors, and a working group that outlasts this meeting.

WHO will stand with you at every step, alongside Africa CDC and other partners.

The people who live and trade along your rivers and roads did not choose to live beside an outbreak.

Together, we can make those connections not risks, but lifelines.

Once again, my thanks to Your Excellency and everyone there today for your leadership and partnership.

I thank you. Merci beaucoup.