This decision, announced by the WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in accordance with the International Health Regulations, comes as health authorities fear a challenging regional outbreak to contain.
According to the latest figures reported as of May 16, 2026, eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 suspected deaths have been identified in the province of Ituri in eastern DRC. The health zones of Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongbwalu are among the most affected. Suspected outbreaks have also been reported in the neighboring North Kivu, a region marked by previous health and security crises.
Fear of Spread
International concern escalated after the confirmation of two cases in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, in travelers returning from DRC. One patient has died. Another confirmed case has also been detected in the Congolese capital Kinshasa, over 2,000 kilometers away from the epicenter of the epidemic. Health authorities now fear a spread facilitated by high population mobility and cross-border commercial exchanges.
In its statement, the WHO emphasizes that the event poses a high risk to international public health, even if it does not meet the criteria of a global pandemic. The UN agency highlights several aggravating factors: persistent insecurity in eastern Congo, the humanitarian crisis, urban density in some affected areas, and the existence of a vast network of informal medical facilities complicating patient monitoring.
Experts also worry about virus transmission within healthcare facilities. At least four cases of healthcare workers with symptoms compatible with viral hemorrhagic fever have been reported. This situation reveals shortcomings in infection prevention and control measures, including lack of protective equipment and medical staff training.
Another concern is the current absence of an approved vaccine or specific treatment against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus. Unlike the Zaïre strain, responsible for previous deadly epidemics, this variant is less studied and therapeutic tools remain limited.
Intensifying Information Campaigns
In response to the emergency, WHO calls on DRC and Uganda to immediately strengthen health surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory capacities, and isolation of suspected cases. Authorities are also urged to intensify information campaigns among local communities to limit resistance and rumors.
In parallel, the UN agency recommends enhanced border control and monitoring in key travel routes, without closing borders or suspending international trade. WHO believes such restrictions could encourage illicit crossings and worsen virus transmission.
An emergency committee must now be convened to define new temporary recommendations and coordinate the international response to this health crisis reviving the specter of major Ebola epidemics in Central Africa.
