17/05/2026
More than 80 people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda due to an Ebola virus outbreak, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it a global emergency.
May 17, 2026 | Burma Independent Voice
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today, Sunday, that the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda has been declared a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)." WHO warned that the situation poses a serious risk to neighboring countries as well.
According to WHO, the current outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus has not yet become a worldwide pandemic, but the risk of spreading to neighboring countries bordering Congo is considered extremely high.
As of last Saturday, reports indicated that in three health zones of Ituri Province in Congo — Bunia, Rwampara, and Mambasa — there were 80 suspected deaths linked to Ebola, 8 laboratory-confirmed cases, and 246 suspected cases, according to the United Nations health agency.
This outbreak marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in Congo since the virus was first identified in 1976. WHO stated that high infection rates in early samples and the increasing number of suspected cases suggest that the outbreak may spread further.
Unlike previous outbreaks involving the Zaire strain of Ebola, there is currently no officially approved treatment or vaccine available for the Bundibugyo strain, making the situation more severe and unusual.
Cases of international spread have already begun to appear. Among travelers from Congo, two laboratory-confirmed cases were detected in Kampala, Uganda (one of whom died), and one confirmed case was found in Kinshasa, Congo.
WHO has urged countries to activate national emergency and disaster management systems, conduct screening at borders and on major internal transport routes, and immediately isolate infected individuals or those who had contact with patients. It also recommends restricting domestic and international travel for affected individuals for 21 days.
However, WHO advised against completely closing borders or stopping trade, warning that such actions could push people and goods to move through unregulated routes, potentially increasing the spread of the virus.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Ebola is a life-threatening disease that can cause fever, body pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and other severe symptoms. The virus spreads through direct contact with body fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materials.