Ebola Outbreak Escalates in DRC and Uganda; Africa CDC Warns of Regional Spread

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda are grappling with an escalating Ebola outbreak, prompting the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to warn that ten neighboring countries are at high risk of exposure.

As of May 23, 2026, the DRC has reported 746 suspected cases, including 83 confirmed infections and 176 suspected deaths. The outbreak has now spread to Sud-Kivu Province, marking its presence in three provinces: Ituri, Nord-Kivu, and Sud-Kivu.

In Uganda, health authorities have confirmed three new Ebola cases, bringing the total to five. The new cases include a driver who transported the country's first confirmed patient and a health worker exposed while caring for that patient.

Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya identified Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Zambia as countries facing potential exposure.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, citing the rapid spread and severity of the situation. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern about the scale and speed of the outbreak, emphasizing the need for urgent international coordination to prevent further spread.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has implemented enhanced travel screening and entry restrictions to prevent the virus from entering the United States. The CDC also confirmed that an American doctor working in the DRC tested positive for Ebola and has been transported to Germany for treatment.

Health officials stress the urgent need for international coordination to prevent further spread, particularly to high-risk neighboring countries.