Chicago – May 17, 2026
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a “public health emergency of international concern” on Sunday, marking its highest level of global alarm.
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the decision after confirming more than 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths, including four healthcare workers. The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus strain, for which no approved vaccines or therapeutics currently exist.
Most cases are concentrated in DRC’s eastern Ituri province, where 246 suspected infections and 80 deaths have been reported. Uganda confirmed two cases, including one death, linked to travelers from the DRC.
The WHO emphasized that while the situation does not meet pandemic criteria like COVID-19, significant uncertainty surrounds the outbreak’s true scale and geographic spread.
The declaration aims to mobilize international resources, coordinate cross-border screening, and accelerate development of treatments. The agency advised against closing international borders while urging neighboring nations to activate emergency response systems.
