Ebola epidemic in DRC, Uganda public health emergency of international concern
The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), citing confirmed cases and suspected spread. The outbreak has led to eight confirmed cases and 80 suspected deaths in Ituri Province, DRC, with additional confirmed cases in Kampala, Uganda linked to travel from the DRC. While international spread has been documented, the event does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency under the International Health Regulations.
- ▪As of 16 May 2026, eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 suspected deaths have been reported in Ituri Province, DRC.
- ▪Two laboratory-confirmed cases, including one death, were reported in Kampala, Uganda, in individuals who had traveled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- ▪There are no currently approved therapeutics or vaccines specific to the Bundibugyo virus, complicating outbreak response efforts.
- ▪Unusual clusters of deaths and healthcare worker infections suggest possible healthcare-associated transmission and weak infection control measures.
- ▪The high positivity rate of initial samples and increasing syndromic reports indicate a potentially larger undetected outbreak with regional spread risks.
27 outlets in our directory ran this story, first to last over 41 hours. Coverage spans 4 points on the political spectrum — 5 lean left, 19 centre, 1 lean right, 1 right.
- ▪ US tightens Ebola precautions as outbreak declared international emergency — France 24 (EN)
- ▪ The Ebola Outbreak in Africa Was Declared a Global Health Emergency by the WHO. Here's What to Know About the Rare but Severe Illness — Smithsonian Magazine
- ▪ Ebola Was Identified in Congo Weeks Before W.H.O. Declared an Emergency — NYT > Top Stories
- ▪ Deadly Ebola outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern, WHO declares — Live Science
- ▪ Ebola Outbreak in Congo and Uganda Declared Global Emergency — TODAY.com
- ▪ Sen. Bill Cassidy loses primary. And, WHO declares Ebola outbreak a global emergency — NPR — News
- ▪ WHO declares Ebola outbreak an emergency of international concern — r/wallstreetbets
- ▪ What to know about Ebola outbreak after WHO sounds global alarm — Straits Times — World
- ▪ Uganda responds with emergency measures to Ebola outbreak — Al Jazeera English
- ▪ WHO calls Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda an emergency of international concern — Japan Times
- ▪ Transcript - Update on Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, 5/17/2026 — CDC Newsroom
- ▪ Congo's Ebola outbreak declared global health emergency — r/news
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| Original publisher | Who |
| Canonical URL | https://www.who.int/news/item/17-05-2026-epidemic-of-ebola-disease-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-and-uganda-determined-a-public-health-emergency-of-international-concern |
| Publication time | Sun, 17 May 2026 11:44:42 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-17T11:52:13.121Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-17T11:52:13.121Z |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article 12 - Determination of a public health emergency of international concern, including a pandemic emergency of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), after having consulted the States Parties where the event is known to be currently occurring, is hereby determining that the Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), but does not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency, as defined in the IHR.
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