WHO director-general is profoundly concerned after visit to Ebola outbreak area Amid warring factions, hunger, other diseases, DRC residents see Ebola as ‘a lesser evil’

https://www.statnews.com/2026/06/13/who-director-general-in-drc-war-greater-concern-than-ebola/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--A01PC6FzO_bSeGuVE3XgWiEwr_l0R-mJjC3_QugmJhKNNeRuv0aDj__g7s4VlQ46l3uQ5BzkLwzEywvC9cprDAWPi6w&_hsmi=423738578&utm_content=423738578&utm_source=hs_email ‘I’m really worried’: WHO leader on Ebola, war, and politics With at least 708 confirmed cases and 141 deaths, the Ebola outbreak centered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is already the third largest on record. In less than a month, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been to the affected area twice. He’s profoundly worried about the outbreak, but community leaders and people on the ground told him there are other, bigger concerns facing residents. “Why would they care about Ebola when they're dying more because of other problems, whether it's health problems or conflict?” Tedros told STAT’s Helen Branswell in a rare one-on-one interview. “They actually wonder why we are serious about Ebola and not the rest of their suffering.” I highly recommend you read this tough, honest conversation. By Helen BranswellJune 13, 2026 Infectious Diseases Correspondent