WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak In DR Congo And Uganda An International Health Emergency As Death Toll Rises

KUALA LUMPUR,MAY,2026 – The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, warning that the virus poses a risk of further regional spread.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the declaration on May 17, 2026, after assessing the outbreak under the International Health Regulations. The agency said the outbreak does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency, but it is serious enough to require international coordination and urgent public health action.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a less common strain of Ebola. Unlike the better-known Zaire strain, WHO said there are currently no approved Bundibugyo virus-specific vaccines or treatments, making the outbreak especially concerning for health authorities.

According to WHO’s official statement, as of May 16, 2026, DR Congo had reported eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths in Ituri province, including the health zones of Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu. WHO also confirmed two laboratory-confirmed cases in Kampala, Uganda, including one death, involving people who had travelled from DR Congo.

Malay Mail and several international reports cited higher figures from regional health authorities, with the death toll reported at 88 and suspected cases rising above 300. The difference reflects rapidly changing outbreak data, with WHO also warning that the true number of infections and the geographic spread may still be uncertain.

WHO said the situation is extraordinary because of unusual clusters of community deaths, suspected healthcare-associated transmission and the confirmation of cases outside the original outbreak area. A confirmed case was also reported in Kinshasa, DR Congo’s capital, involving a person who had returned from Ituri.

The agency warned that neighbouring countries sharing land borders with DR Congo are at high risk because of population movement, trade and travel links. International spread has already been documented after two confirmed cases were reported in Kampala, Uganda.

WHO has urged DR Congo and Uganda to activate national emergency response mechanisms, establish emergency operation centres and strengthen surveillance, contact tracing, infection prevention, laboratory testing and case management. The agency also called for stronger community engagement so local leaders and communities can help identify cases early and reduce transmission.

Confirmed cases should be isolated and treated in specialised Ebola treatment centres, while contacts should be monitored daily and restricted from international travel for 21 days after exposure. WHO also recommended exit screening at international airports, seaports and major land crossings for people with unexplained fever or symptoms consistent with Ebola.

However, WHO advised against closing borders or imposing broad travel and trade restrictions. The agency warned that such measures could push people and goods into informal crossings, making monitoring and disease control more difficult.

Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that can cause fever, body aches, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in some cases, bleeding. Reuters reported that the virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people, contaminated materials or bodies of those who died from the disease.

The latest outbreak is DR Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in the country in 1976. Previous outbreaks have mostly involved the Zaire strain, while the Bundibugyo strain has appeared far less frequently, adding to concerns about limited medical countermeasures.

Health experts are now focused on preventing wider spread, especially in eastern DR Congo, where insecurity, humanitarian challenges, population mobility and informal healthcare networks could complicate response efforts.

For now, WHO’s declaration is intended to mobilise global support, improve surveillance and accelerate emergency response. The outbreak is not being classified as a pandemic, but the agency’s warning makes clear that swift action is needed to prevent the Ebola situation in DR Congo and Uganda from worsening.