The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the recent Ebola outbreak stemming from the Bundibugyo virus in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) qualifies as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). This decision follows alarming reports of over 300 suspected cases alongside approximately 88 reported fatalities.
Following discussions with officials from the impacted nations, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the declaration.
He noted, “There are significant uncertainties to the true number of infected persons and geographic spread associated with this event at the present time. In addition, there is limited understanding of the epidemiological links with known or suspected cases,” as detailed in an official statement.
According to WHO, the current outbreak does not fit the definition of a pandemic emergency, given the nature of the virus’s transmission. They have advised against closing international borders, advocating instead for coordinated global responses involving enhanced monitoring, contact tracing, and cross-border screening, as well as infection prevention and control measures.
As of May 16, there were eight confirmed laboratory cases, alongside 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected fatalities, primarily in Ituri Province in eastern DRC. Most cases are reported in the DRC, with two instances documented in Uganda.
Notably, a confirmed case was reported in Kinshasa, roughly 1,000 kilometers away from the outbreak’s epicenter. This case was linked to travel from the affected region. Additionally, suspected cases have emerged in North Kivu province.
A growing Ebola outbreak in Congo has now spread to Uganda, with at least 65 people dead and hundreds of suspected cases reported. Health experts warn the situation is especially dangerous because the strain involved has no approved vaccine or treatment. pic.twitter.com/hyVwc7NsZT
— CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil (@CBSEveningNews) May 15, 2026
The earliest suspected case involved a 59-year-old male who exhibited symptoms beginning April 24, ultimately passing away on April 27 in Ituri. Authorities first discovered the outbreak via social media on May 5, by which point about 50 deaths had already occurred. The outbreak received laboratory confirmation on May 15.
In Uganda, two cases involved individuals who had traveled from DRC, one of whom died while receiving treatment in Kampala. The significant positivity rate of samples and the outbreak’s spread to urban areas suggest a heightened risk of local and regional escalation.
“This outbreak started in April. So far, we don’t know the index case. It means we don’t know how far is the magnitude of this outbreak,” noted Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, during a press briefing.
Laboratory analyses have confirmed the Bundibugyo virus as the strain responsible for this outbreak. It is noteworthy that there are no known vaccines or effective treatments for this particular strain, marking the third observation and the largest occurrence of this variant to date. DRC has seen more than 20 Ebola outbreaks throughout its history.
Ebola is transmitted through bodily fluids and can lead to severe illness that is often fatal. The current response is hampered by local conflicts, population movements linked to mining activities, and cross-border travel.
