Pope Leo XIV has called for an expanded international response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo where the health ministry reports 5,375 confirmed cases and 2,557 deaths across six provinces.
The pontiff on Sunday appealed for urgent global solidarity, urging that prevention efforts involve local communities to save lives.
“I encourage a response from the international community that also involves local communities in prevention efforts in order to save many human lives,” said the Pope.
His remarks came as Kinshasa confirmed transmission remains active in 56 health zones, with Ituri province the most affected.
The World Health Organisation has described the epidemic — caused by the Bundibugyo strain — as the largest ever recorded in the DRC, warning it is spreading faster than containment measures.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control has also pressed for greater international support. Declared in May, this is the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak.
While Kinshasa has received more than 16,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, it is licensed against a different strain, leaving no approved treatment for Bundibugyo.
Ongoing armed conflict in eastern provinces continues to hamper response efforts.
JN/APA