WHO Declares Ebola Virus Outbreak in Congo, Uganda Public Health Emergency

The outbreak falls short of a ‘pandemic emergency,’ WHO said.

People at Bunia General Referral Hospital following confirmation of an Ebola outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain in Bunia, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 16, 2026. Victoire Mukenge /Reuters

The World Health Organization (WHO) on May 17 declared a “public health emergency of international concern” related to an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus—less virulent than the more common Zaire ebolavirus.

The outbreak was first detected in Ituri Province in Congo. As of May 16, there have been 80 suspected deaths across at least three of Congo’s health zones, including Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongbwalu. Another eight cases have been confirmed, and 246 suspected cases are undergoing testing. Congo’s health minister said the fatality rate for Bundibugyo ebolavirus can reach 50 percent.