The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has touched down in Kinshasa to hold high-level discussions with President Félix Tshisekedi as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) grapples with its 17th Ebola outbreak.

Ebola cases are surging across the vast nation of over 100 million people. Authorities declared the outbreak on May 15—weeks after initial reports—marking the latest in a series of devastating health crises to hit the region. The WHO had previously warned that the situation was escalating at an unprecedented pace, urgently calling for an accelerated emergency response to contain the spread.

Health officials are now ramping up efforts to curb the outbreak, deploying medical teams and resources to the most affected areas. The WHO’s arrival underscores the gravity of the situation and the need for coordinated international support to prevent further loss of life.