<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The leader of the World Health Organisation has </span><a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2026-message-by-the-who-director-general-to-the-people-of-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo" rel="" target="_blank" title="written a letter"><span>written a letter</span></a><span> to the people of the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/africa" rel="" target="_blank" title="Democratic Republic of the Congo"><span>Democratic Republic of the Congo</span></a><span>, warning of the dangers of the current </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/ebola-virus" rel="" target="_blank" title="Ebola outbreak"><span>Ebola outbreak</span></a><span>, as angered communities lash out over strict health restrictions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has travelled to the DRC, where at least 220 people have been killed in the latest Ebola outbreak centred in Ituri province.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ahead of his arrival, he sent an open letter to the country's people, pleading among other things for a ceasefire between warring factions.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-may-29-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/239b5222-9bfe-468c-940e-2675a68fb971" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Pray for President Trump': Support for absent commander-in-chief</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"No cause, no conflict, no grievance is worth condemning innocent people to death from a preventable disease," Ghebreyesus wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A ceasefire, even a temporary one, would save lives. I urge you, I implore you: give us the space to help the people who need it most."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group and Islamic State affiliated Allied Democratic Force, alongside multiple militias, are all actively carrying out attacks in the country.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/ebola-outbreak-democratic-republic-of-congo-who-leader-sends-letter/56ccc67b-acbb-4187-863b-80dbb99ee8db" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/heavy-rain-thunderstorms-queensland-new-south-wales-when-will-it-end/753d600f-2f82-4d4b-b451-f1fee0ac0396" rel="" target="_blank" title="End in sight for rain, storms hammering east coast"><strong><span>End in sight for rain, storms hammering east coast</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ghebreyesus also ackowledged past failures by the WHO, saying he understood why there was anger and mistrust in some communities.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Trust must be earned, it cannot be assumed," he wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But I promise you, we are here to learn as much as we are here to help."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/real-estate-bodies-say-federal-budget-will-increase-rent/fb13f81a-2699-4226-842e-f77544235f5e" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Rents to jump 350 per cent under budget measures, modelling shows</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Health workers in the country face dangers from the highly-contagious and deadly disease itself, especially as many are forced to work without proper protective equipment due to difficulties in securing aid.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But they are also at physical risk from the people, with communities angered over strict burial protocols that violate cultural practices, as well as heavy movement restrictions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At least three health care centres have been attacked in Ituri province, Associated Press has reported.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ghebreyesus promised "dignified burials" in his letter.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I know that many of you are exhausted. You are already carrying so much: malaria, hunger, insecurity, and the daily struggle to keep your families safe. And now Ebola. It is not fair, and I will not pretend otherwise," Ghebreyesus said in his letter.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He exhorted the people of the Congo to come together, saying that only by working all in concert could the outbreak be contained and the disease defeated, as in the past.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But he did not sugar-coat the dangers faced by the whole population.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I need to be honest with you about something important. Most previous Ebola outbreaks in DRC were caused by a virus called Ebola Zaire, for which we have vaccines and treatments," he wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This outbreak is caused by a different virus called Ebola Bundibugyo. There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for it. This is serious, and you deserve to hear that plainly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But I also want you to know this: while there are no specific treatments for Bundibugyo, there is much we can do together to prevent the spread of this virus and save lives.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Early supportive care in our treatment centres can make a real difference. If you or someone you know falls ill, please do not wait."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The WHO has declared the outbreak an international public health emergency, and global aid has started arriving in the country, including from the European Union.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There are more than 1000 suspected cases so far in the DRC.</span></div></div>