Ebola epidemic in DRC, Uganda public health emergency of international concern
The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), citing confirmed cases and suspected spread. The outbreak has led to eight confirmed cases and 80 suspected deaths in Ituri Province, DRC, with additional confirmed cases in Kampala, Uganda linked to travel from the DRC. While international spread has been documented, the event does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency under the International Health Regulations.
- ▪As of 16 May 2026, eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 suspected deaths have been reported in Ituri Province, DRC.
- ▪Two laboratory-confirmed cases, including one death, were reported in Kampala, Uganda, in individuals who had traveled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- ▪There are no currently approved therapeutics or vaccines specific to the Bundibugyo virus, complicating outbreak response efforts.
- ▪Unusual clusters of deaths and healthcare worker infections suggest possible healthcare-associated transmission and weak infection control measures.
- ▪The high positivity rate of initial samples and increasing syndromic reports indicate a potentially larger undetected outbreak with regional spread risks.
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Pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article 12 - Determination of a public health emergency of international concern, including a pandemic emergency of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), after having consulted the States Parties where the event is known to be currently occurring, is hereby determining that the Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), but does not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency, as defined in the IHR.
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