Published on: 2026-05-20
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Although the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda does not meet the criteria for a global pandemic, the risk of disease spread at the national and regional levels remains high. This was stated on Wednesday by the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Speaking in Geneva, the head of WHO stated that besidesseveral dozen confirmed casesInfections with the Bundibugyo strain, almost 600 suspected cases and 139 deaths have been registered, which could presumably be associated with the disease caused by this strain.
“We expect the numbers to continue to rise. It must be taken into account that the virus circulated for a long time before the outbreak was detected,” Tedros said.
According to him, two cases of infection have also been confirmed in Uganda’s capital Kampala.
Vaccines and treatments are not available yet
The head of VOZ reminded that the Bundibugyo virus is extremely rare and was last identified in 2007. Currently, there is no vaccine against it, nor are there any specific treatment methods.
Nevertheless, WHO staff are already working with community leaders in Ituri province – the epicenter of the outbreak – to prevent further spread of the infection. Due to years of armed violence, residents of eastern DRC, including local healthcare workers, are in an extremely vulnerable position.
According to data from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than two million internally displaced persons are affected by the outbreak in Ituri Province and North Kivu. The capital of North Kivu, Goma, remains under the control of the M23 rebel group.
According to Mari Rozelin Belizer, the acting regional director of VOZ for emergencies, the organization’s permanent team in Goma remains on site and continues to support the population.
Difficulties in diagnosing the disease
In April, the number of deaths among the civilian population in the region sharply increased again. The regional director of WHO for Africa, Moamed Yakub Djanabi, noted that detecting Ebola outbreaks in the Ituri province remains an “extremely difficult task.”
According to him, effective epidemiological surveillance depends on timely informing local communities, the work of medical institutions, and laboratory confirmation of infection cases.
“In a remote or hazardous area, time may be required before cases are identified,” he said.
The gentleman explained that the Bundibugyo virus was able to be identified only after the samples were delivered over 1700 kilometers — to the capital of the country, Kinshasa.
WHO specialist on viral hemorrhagic fevers Anaïs Legand emphasized that the organization began supporting the DR Congo authorities immediately — as soon as it received information about the threat.
“Research to determine when and where exactly this outbreak began is ongoing. Given its scale, we assume that it probably started several months ago. But right now, our main priority is to break the chain of infection transmission,” she said.
Emergency situation of international significance
On Tuesday, a meeting of the WHO Emergency Committee was held in Geneva, which confirmed that the Ebola outbreak represents aAn emergency situation in the field of public health, having international significance, but it is not a pandemic.
The committee chair, Professor Lucille Blumberg, reminded that the Ebola virus is transmitted only through direct contact with the blood or biological fluids of an infected person.
“This is not an accidental contact or airborne droplet transmission. It is important to understand this. That is exactly why restrictions on travel are not supported by the recommendations of the International Health Regulations,” emphasized Professor Blumberg.
She also noted that the fight against the outbreak complicates the ongoing humanitarian crisis, security issues, high population mobility, and the proximity of numerous borders.
“Urgently needed additional resources, personnel… as well as research and development of countermeasures,” he said, calling to strengthen epidemiological supervision and identification of potential contacts of infected individuals.
On Sunday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus officially declared the Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in accordance with Article 12 of the International Health Regulations.
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