• 80 suspected deaths reported; UN health agency terms situation ‘extraordinary,’ cites lack of treatments
• Neighbouring countries at ‘high risk’ of further spread

BENGALURU: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern, after the rare viral strain led to 80 suspected deaths.

The WHO said the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, does not meet the criteria for a pandemic but warned that countries sharing land borders with the DRC are at high risk of further spread.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the UN health agency said that 246 suspected cases, eight laboratory-confirmed cases and 80 suspected deaths had been reported as of Saturday in the Ituri province of Congo.

The cases span at least three health zones, including Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu. Another case was confirmed in the eastern city of Goma, a statement by M23 rebels said.

In Uganda’s capital Kampala, the WHO said, two apparently unrelated lab-confirmed cases, including one death, were reported on Friday and Saturday involving people who had travelled from the DRC, though a previously reported case in DRC’s capital Kinshasa had tested negative after secondary testing.

The WHO called the outbreak “extraordinary”, noting that there are no approved therapeutics or vaccines specific to the Bundibugyo virus, unlike for the more common Zaire strains that caused all but one of the country’s previous 16 outbreaks.

The DRC’s health ministry said the 17th outbreak could be much larger than reported, given the high positivity rate of initial samples.

The agency advised countries to activate their national emergency-management mechanisms and increase screening at borders and on internal roads.

It said contacts or cases of the disease should not travel internationally unless it is for a medical evacuation. It also recommended isolating confirmed cases and monitoring their contacts daily for 21 days.

At the same time, the WHO urged countries not to close their borders or impose restrictions on travel and trade. It cautioned that such measures could push people and goods to make unmonitored informal crossings.

Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a statement he had requested guidance on potentially declaring the outbreak a public health emergency of continental security.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2026