The World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially declared the Ebola outbreak spreading across the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) — the highest level of global health alert under international law.
Declaration Amid Rising Cases
The announcement was made on Sunday following a rapid surge in cases linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus. Health officials warn that cross-border transmission, population displacement, and ongoing conflict in eastern Congo are significantly increasing the risk of further spread. At least 246 suspected cases and more than 80 deaths have been reported in Congo's Ituri province, according to African health authorities.
The outbreak is concentrated around the mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara, though suspected infections have also emerged in the provincial capital, Bunia. In a concerning development, Uganda has confirmed a fatal imported case involving a Congolese patient who travelled to Kampala for treatment before succumbing to the disease. Ugandan authorities report no evidence yet of widespread local transmission, but emergency surveillance and screening measures have been intensified at border crossings and health facilities.
Challenges and Response
The WHO stated that the outbreak meets the threshold for a coordinated international response due to the potential for regional spread and significant operational hurdles faced by health workers. However, officials stopped short of classifying it as a pandemic emergency. The Bundibugyo strain is particularly concerning because no approved vaccines specifically target it. Most existing Ebola vaccines were developed for the more common Zaire strain, which has caused previous deadly outbreaks in central and west Africa.
Health experts have raised alarms over the security situation in eastern Congo, where armed groups, mass displacement, and poor sanitation are complicating contact tracing and infection isolation efforts. This marks the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s 17th recorded Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in the country in 1976. The last outbreak officially ended in December 2025.
The WHO, Africa CDC, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are now coordinating support efforts, including enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing, and emergency response deployments. International health agencies urge neighbouring countries to remain vigilant and strengthen preparedness measures to contain the outbreak.
