WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak in DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency
The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern, citing over 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. As of May 16, 2026, the outbreak has resulted in over 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths.
The outbreak is attributed to the Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola, which has previously appeared only twice: in Uganda during 2007-2008 and in the DRC in 2012. Currently, there are no approved treatments or vaccines for this strain.
The majority of cases have been reported in the DRC's Ituri province, near the borders with Uganda and South Sudan. Uganda has confirmed two cases in its capital, Kampala, both involving individuals who had traveled from the DRC; one of these cases resulted in death.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the outbreak does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency but emphasized the need for international coordination to understand the extent of the outbreak and to implement control measures.
The WHO advises against closing international borders, noting that such measures can push the movement of people and goods to informal border crossings that are not monitored, thus increasing the chances of the spread of disease.
