The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. According to the WHO, it is not a global pandemic, but there is concern about regional spread due to cross-border movement, insecurity and a lack of vaccines or treatments specifically for this strain.
The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak of Ebola virus disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. The declaration was made on May 17, 2026, after consultation with the authorities in Congo and Uganda, but the organization emphasized that the event does not meet the criteria for a global pandemic at this stage. (World Health Organization)
According to the WHO, as of May 16, eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 suspected deaths had been reported in the Ituri district of eastern Congo. The cases were reported in at least three health zones: Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongbuwalo. In Uganda, two cases were confirmed in Kampala, including one death, in people who had arrived from Congo. Another suspected case in Kinshasa was ruled out by confirmatory testing.
Since the WHO announcement, there has been an increase in the number of cases reported by Congolese authorities. According to a Reuters report on May 19, Congo has reported 516 suspected cases, 33 confirmed cases, and 131 deaths related to the outbreak, along with two confirmed cases in Uganda. The figures are expected to continue to change as the epidemiological investigation progresses. (Reuters)
A rarer strain of Ebola
Ebola is a serious and sometimes fatal disease that affects humans and other primates. According to the World Health Organization, Ebola viruses are transmitted to humans from infected animals, and then spread between humans through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of a sick person, as well as with objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with these fluids. The incubation period usually ranges from two to 21 days, and an infected person is not considered contagious before the onset of symptoms.
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, one of the known strains of Ebola. According to the WHO, in two previous outbreaks of Bundibugyo disease, the mortality rate ranged from 30% to 50%. Unlike the Zaire Ebola strain, for which there are approved vaccines and treatments, there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo virus, although early supportive care may be life-saving.
Fear of spread in conflict-torn region
In its statement, the WHO explained that the event was considered unusual due to a combination of several factors: clusters of deaths in the community with symptoms consistent with Bundibugyo disease, morbidity and mortality among health workers, a high positive rate in initial tests, and uncertainty about the true extent of the outbreak. The fact that two cases have already been identified in Uganda after travel from Congo indicates that international spread has already occurred.
The risk of further spread is particularly high in eastern Congo, which is characterised by persistent insecurity, a humanitarian crisis, high population movement, urban or semi-urban outbreaks, and a large network of clinics and informal care settings. These factors can make it difficult to identify cases, isolate them, trace contacts, and prevent transmission in health facilities.
Don't close borders, but strengthen monitoring.
The WHO called on Congo and Uganda to activate national emergency mechanisms, establish incident management centers, strengthen testing, expand contact tracing, improve infection prevention in hospitals, and involve local, religious, and traditional leaders in public education. The organization also recommended exit screening at airports, ports, and major border crossings in affected areas to identify patients with fever or other symptoms before travel.
However, the organization stressed that countries should not close borders or impose sweeping restrictions on travel and trade. According to the WHO, such measures are sometimes taken out of fear and are not scientifically based. They can push the movement of people and goods into informal, unmonitored crossings, thereby increasing the risk of the disease spreading and undermining response efforts.
At the same time, the WHO is expected to convene an emergency committee to advise on interim recommendations for countries. According to the organization, coordinated international action is now needed to understand the scope of the outbreak, support affected countries, strengthen preparedness in neighboring countries, and advance research and development of vaccines and potential treatments against the current strain.
Short FAQ
What did the World Health Organization announce?
The WHO has declared the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain in Congo and Uganda to be an international health emergency, but is not currently defined as a pandemic.
What is the Bundibugyo strain?
Bundibugyo is a strain of the Ebola virus. It has caused outbreaks in Africa in the past, and there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for it, unlike some other Ebola strains.
Why is the outbreak worrying?
It is worrying due to deaths in the community, infection among health workers, identification of cases in Uganda after travel from Congo, and uncertainty about the true extent of the outbreak.
Is it recommended to close borders?
The WHO does not recommend border closures or sweeping restrictions on travel and trade. Instead, it recommends monitoring, testing, contact tracing, isolation of patients, and preparedness in neighboring countries.
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