WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak in Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency

The World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday. The declaration followed reports of more than 300 suspected cases and at least 88 deaths.

Officials said the outbreak does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency like COVID-19 and advised against closing international borders.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare variant of Ebola for which there are no approved vaccines or therapeutics. Congo accounts for all but two of the cases, both reported in Uganda. A laboratory-confirmed case was also reported in Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, roughly 600 miles from the epicenter in the eastern province of Ituri.

Suspected cases have also appeared in North Kivu province.

Health authorities said the outbreak began in April, with the earliest known suspected case developing symptoms on April 24. By the time officials were alerted on May 5, 50 deaths had already been recorded. Violent conflict with militants and constant population movement due to mining have complicated containment and contact tracing efforts.

Officials reported at least four deaths among healthcare workers who showed Ebola symptoms.

The WHO said the high percentage of positive cases, spread to Kinshasa and Uganda, and clusters of deaths point toward a potentially much larger outbreak than currently detected. The Bundibugyo virus was previously detected in Uganda during a 2007-08 outbreak that infected 149 people and killed 37, and again in Congo in 2012.