The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm over a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, warning that the virus strain driving the epidemic currently has no approved vaccine or treatment.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the announcement during an emergency press briefing, confirming that the outbreak has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to its escalating regional threat.
He explained that the outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, noting that there are currently no licensed vaccines or therapeutics available to combat it. He warned that this limitation is severely hampering efforts to contain the spread, particularly as infections increase in urban areas and among frontline health workers.
WHO reported 51 confirmed cases so far across the DRC’s Ituri and North Kivu provinces, including the cities of Bunia and Goma. Uganda has also recorded two confirmed cases in Kampala, one of which resulted in a death linked to travel from the DRC. An American national who tested positive in the DRC has reportedly been transferred to Germany for treatment.
Health authorities cautioned that the true scale of the outbreak may be significantly higher, with nearly 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths already identified. Tedros said further increases are expected due to the time the virus circulated before detection, alongside ongoing risks from healthcare transmission, population displacement, and insecurity in eastern DRC.
The WHO chief noted that conflict in Ituri province has intensified since late 2025, displacing more than 100,000 people in two months, while population movement in mining areas is also increasing transmission risks. WHO has already deployed emergency teams and released additional funding, including US$3.4 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies, bringing total support to US$3.9 million. Emergency committee chair Lucille Blumberg confirmed that the situation meets the criteria for a global public health emergency due to rising regional risks and worsening humanitarian conditions.
Elijah Adeyemi
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