WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak in DRC and Uganda a Global Health Emergency
WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak in DRC and Uganda a Global Health Emergency
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring Uganda a public health emergency of international concern after nearly 90 deaths. The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, has no approved vaccine or specific treatment and poses a high risk of regional spread.
The epidemic originated in Ituri province, northeastern DRC, with the first reported case on April 24 involving a nurse in Bunia. As of May 16, 88 deaths and 336 suspected cases were reported. Cases have reached Kinshasa, and two laboratory-confirmed infections linked to DRC travelers have been recorded in Uganda, including one death in Kampala.
Authorities highlight challenges in containing the outbreak due to population movement, weak healthcare infrastructure, and ongoing armed conflicts, particularly in mineral-rich areas controlled by rebel groups such as the ADF and M23. Security incidents earlier this month killed at least 69 people in Ituri.
WHO has urged neighboring countries to activate emergency management systems, strengthen cross-border screening, isolate confirmed cases, and monitor contacts for 21 days, while advising against border closures to prevent unmonitored crossings. The agency emphasized uncertainties regarding the outbreak’s true scope and epidemiological links.
The Bundibugyo strain, first identified in Uganda in 2007, is highly lethal, with mortality rates reaching 50%, and this declaration marks WHO’s second-highest alert level under international health regulations.
