The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the latest Ebola outbreak in Central Africa a global public health emergency following a rapid rise in suspected cases and deaths linked to the deadly virus.
The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, is currently affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Uganda. Health officials say the virus has already spread across several communities in Congo’s Ituri Province, with suspected infections also reported in Uganda after cross-border travel.
According to figures released by WHO and Africa CDC, more than 600 suspected cases and at least 139 suspected deaths have now been recorded as of Tuesday, May 20, 2026. Authorities fear the actual number could be higher because the outbreak may have circulated undetected for weeks before it was officially confirmed.
Health experts are particularly concerned because the Bundibugyo strain currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. WHO officials revealed that experimental vaccines are still months away, with estimates suggesting it could take six to nine months before any vaccine becomes available for emergency use.
The outbreak has placed enormous pressure on already fragile healthcare systems in eastern Congo, where conflict, displacement and poor infrastructure continue to complicate emergency response efforts. Medical workers on the ground have reported shortages of protective equipment, medicines and transport needed for tracing infected persons and containing the spread of the virus.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak represents an “extraordinary event” requiring urgent international coordination to prevent further spread across the region. However, the organization clarified that the situation has not yet been classified as a global pandemic.
Health authorities in Congo and Uganda have intensified screening at border points, expanded treatment centres and launched emergency surveillance operations. International agencies are also airlifting medical supplies and deploying response teams to affected communities.
The current crisis marks Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first discovered in the country in 1976, renewing fears of another large-scale regional health emergency if containment efforts fail.
