The World Health Organization has declared an international public health emergency over an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread into Uganda. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the announcement after the outbreak reached more than 300 suspected cases and at least 87 confirmed deaths, primarily in Congo's Ituri province.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, a rare variant of Ebola for which no approved vaccine currently exists. Health authorities say the absence of a proven vaccine makes containment especially challenging and significantly raises the stakes for affected communities in the region.
The virus has now reached major urban centers in both countries, alarming international health officials who warn the true scale of the outbreak may be larger than detected. A case was confirmed in Kampala, Uganda's capital, after a man who had traveled from Congo fell ill and died, suggesting cross-border transmission is already underway.
Contact tracing efforts are being complicated by frequent community burials that occur before health workers can identify and isolate all potentially infected individuals. In Bunia, the largest city in Ituri province, residents have expressed fear as the outbreak has spread rapidly through their neighborhoods.
Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya confirmed the outbreak began in late April and has accelerated in recent weeks. The international community is mobilizing resources to support containment efforts while researchers work urgently on vaccine development for the Bundibugyo variant.
This article was produced by AVALW News on Sunday, May 17, 2026 based on reporting from 6 verified news sources across 2 countries. Our editorial process cross-references facts from multiple independent outlets to deliver accurate, comprehensive coverage. All original sources are linked below.