WHO chief says 'deeply concerned' by 'scale and speed' of Democratic Republic Congo’s Ebola outbreak
The WHO chief expressed deep concern over the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has spread to Uganda and resulted in 131 deaths. He declared the situation a public health emergency and emphasized the need for urgent action. The outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which no vaccines or treatments currently exist.
- ▪The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in 131 deaths and 513 cases.
- ▪Confirmed cases have been reported in urban areas, including Kampala and Goma.
- ▪The outbreak has been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) chief said on Tuesday (May 19, 2026) he was "deeply concerned" by an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo which has spilt into Uganda, believed to have killed 131 people.WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Sunday (May 17, 2026) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) — the second-highest level of alert under international health regulations."I did not do this lightly... I'm deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic," he told the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva. He added that he would convene the agency's emergency committee later Tuesday (May 19, 2026) "to advise us on temporary recommendations".
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