A new Ebola outbreak in Central Africa has been declared a “public health emergency of international concern” by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The outbreak, affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, has already resulted in multiple confirmed and suspected cases, raising global health concerns.
WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak a Global Health Emergency
The World Health Organization announced Saturday that the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda qualifies as an international public health emergency.
According to WHO reports:
- In the DRC (Ituri province):
- 8 laboratory-confirmed cases
- 246 suspected cases
- 80 suspected deaths
- In Uganda:
- 2 laboratory-confirmed cases, including one death
- Both cases involved individuals who traveled from the DRC and appear unrelated
WHO officials noted that the true number of infected people and the full geographic spread remain uncertain. Epidemiological links between confirmed and suspected cases are still being investigated.
Bundibugyo Strain Causes Outbreak
This outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there are currently no approved therapeutics or vaccines, according to WHO.
The DRC has faced 17 Ebola outbreaks since the 1970s, with previous emergencies prompting international health responses. WHO has previously declared global health emergencies for outbreaks of Ebola, COVID-19, and mpox.
U.S. CDC Monitoring the Situation
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring the outbreak and working with the DRC Ministry of Health to support response efforts.
CDC officials emphasized that the risk to the American public is low at this time.
Acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya said:
“CDC has extensive experience and expertise in responding to Ebola outbreaks. It is a large outbreak, and we were just informed yesterday about it. We’re absolutely committed to making sure that they can get resources as they need.”
Bhattacharya noted that lessons learned from previous Ebola outbreaks are being applied to help control the current situation.
Global Health Response Underway
International health agencies are coordinating efforts to contain the outbreak, including:
- Tracking suspected and confirmed cases
- Supporting local medical teams with resources and expertise
- Monitoring cross-border movement between the DRC and Uganda
The WHO and CDC continue to provide updates as the situation develops.
