The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. This alert is the most severe level of global health warning as per international regulations.
The escalation follows a sharp increase in cases associated with the Bundibugyo strain of the virus. Health authorities are concerned about the potential for further spread due to cross-border transmission, population displacement, and ongoing conflicts in eastern Congo.
African health authorities have reported over 246 suspected cases and more than 80 deaths in Congo’s Ituri province. The outbreak is primarily concentrated in the mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara, with additional suspected cases emerging in the provincial capital, Bunia.
In Uganda, a fatal case involving a Congolese patient who traveled to Kampala for treatment has been confirmed. While local transmission within Uganda has not been confirmed, authorities have intensified emergency surveillance and screening measures as a precaution.
Although the outbreak has triggered the need for a coordinated international response, the WHO has refrained from categorizing it as a pandemic emergency. The absence of approved vaccines specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain adds to the concern, as existing Ebola vaccines are designed for the more prevalent Zaire strain.
Challenges persist due to the security situation in eastern Congo, where armed groups, mass displacement, and poor sanitation hinder contact tracing and infection control efforts. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since its initial identification in 1976, with the previous outbreak officially ending in December 2025.
Efforts are now underway with the WHO, Africa CDC, and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collaborating on support initiatives such as surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing, and emergency response deployments.
