UN health agency reports 80 suspected deaths, warns outbreak could spread to neighboring countries; there are no approved virus-specific therapeutics or vaccines for this strain

WHO has declared an international public health emergency after the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak spread across eastern Congo and into Uganda. The move is meant to sharpen surveillance and support as rising cases, fear and insecurity hamper containment.

The agency added that the outbreak, with around 246 cases and 80 deaths, does not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency.

Some 88 deaths and 336 suspected cases of the highly contagious haemorrhagic fever have been reported so far.

Health authorities have confirmed the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare variant of the disease.

GENEVA | Xinhua | The World Health Organisation on Sunday determined that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda constitutes a “public health emergency of international concern.” The WHO said on social media platform X that the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, does not meet the criteria of a …

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 80 as authorities warned there was no vaccine for the strain in a crisis that the World Health Organization...

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 80 as authorities warned there was no vaccine for the strain in a crisis that the World Health Organization...

The agency added that the outbreak, with around 246 cases and 80 deaths, does not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency.

The agency added that the outbreak, with around 246 cases and 80 deaths, does not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency.

The agency added that the outbreak, with around 246 cases and 80 deaths, does not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency.

As of Saturday, May 16, 2026, a total of 246 suspected cases had been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province across at least three health zones, including Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongbwalu.  

WHO declares Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda a global public health emergency amid rising suspected cases and deaths.

WHO declares Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda a global public health emergency amid rising suspected cases and deaths.

The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency, said the World Health Organization.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has declared the Ebola disease outbreak in Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern after more than 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths.