Geneva/Kinshasa/Kampala, May 18 (BNP): The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighbouring Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) following a sharp rise in suspected infections and deaths.
According to health authorities, more than 300 suspected Ebola cases and at least 88 deaths have been reported, prompting fears of wider regional transmission. The DRC accounts for nearly all reported infections, while two suspected cases have been identified in neighbouring Uganda, raising concerns over cross-border spread.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that while the outbreak currently does not meet the criteria of a pandemic, the risk of transmission to neighbouring countries remains high, requiring urgent international coordination and preparedness.
Officials confirmed that the outbreak has been linked to the rare Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) strain of Ebola, for which no approved vaccines or specific treatments are currently available. Though both Congo and Uganda have experienced multiple Ebola outbreaks in the past, this marks only the third documented outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain.
The WHO warned that the actual scale of infections could be significantly larger due to a high positivity rate among tested samples and the increasing number of suspected cases being reported. Emergency containment efforts, including surveillance, contact tracing, screening, and isolation measures, have been intensified in affected areas to curb further spread of the deadly virus.
Global health agencies have urged neighbouring nations to strengthen preparedness and public health monitoring as authorities continue efforts to contain the outbreak and prevent a broader health crisis.
