World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the Ebola outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda is spreading rapidly and may worsen before improving.

According to Tedros, delays in detecting infections allowed the epidemic to expand quickly, forcing health authorities to catch up with transmission already underway.

The WHO reported more than 100 confirmed cases and 10 confirmed deaths in Congo, along with hundreds of suspected infections and deaths that indicate the outbreak may be significantly larger than official confirmed numbers suggest.Uganda has also confirmed several infections and at least one death.

Tedros explained that the response is being complicated by armed conflict, population displacement, and distrust of outside authorities in affected regions such as Ituri and North Kivu.Security incidents targeting health facilities have further hindered containment efforts.

The WHO said it is coordinating with the governments of Congo and Uganda, as well as African health agencies and international partners, to strengthen the response.The article also focuses on political criticism surrounding the outbreak.U.S.Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued that the WHO reacted too slowly to the crisis.

Tedros rejected the criticism, stating that the WHO supports national governments rather than replacing their responsibilities, and suggested Rubio misunderstood how the organization operates.

Public health experts and Democratic lawmakers additionally criticized President Donald Trump’s administration for withdrawing from the WHO, reducing USAID operations, and weakening global health programs.

Critics argue that cuts to international health infrastructure and staffing may have reduced preparedness for outbreaks like Ebola and could increase the risk of international spread, including to the United States.