BUNIA — World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo, on Saturday to assess the Ebola outbreak response. He plans to visit a treatment center and meet with local authorities, health workers, and affected families in the city.

As of Friday, authorities reported 906 suspected Ebola cases and 223 suspected deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved treatment or vaccine. Uganda’s Ministry of Health confirmed nine cases and one death as of the same date.

"The best way to address this is to provide all the necessary support to fight the disease at its epicenter and to continue offering every assistance needed," Tedros told reporters on Friday. "This is a difficult situation, and we recognize that. But the Democratic Republic of Congo has faced the Ebola virus many times before. We are confident that it can once again bring this outbreak under control."

Response efforts at Bunia's Rwampara and General hospitals have improved with additional staff, protective gear, and medical supplies, though patients continue arriving around the clock. Medical aid donated by the European Union arrived in Ituri province on Thursday, with more shipments expected over the next eight days. The U.S. announced $80 million in additional aid on Thursday, bringing its total commitment to more than $112 million.

Despite international support, challenges persist. Attacks in Ituri by the Allied Democratic Force, a rebel group allied with the Islamic State group, and ethnic militias have hindered the Ebola response. Residents have also launched at least three attacks against health centers due to anger over stringent medical protocols for handling victims’ bodies, which conflict with local burial rites.

Dr. Alan Gonzalez, MSF’s deputy director of operations, warned of the outbreak’s unprecedented pace. "Never before has an Ebola outbreak recorded so many cases so soon after its declaration." Gonzalez added, "Nobody knows the true scale and severity of this outbreak," calling for immediate expansion of testing, faster deployment of aid workers, and sustained access for medical supplies.