WHO declares Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in DR Congo a global health emergency

The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern Ituri province a public health emergency of international concern. The agency confirmed that the outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo virus strain, for which there are currently no approved drugs or vaccines. Approximately 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths have been reported, with eight laboratory-confirmed cases in DR Congo and two confirmed cases in neighbouring Uganda.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted "significant uncertainties" regarding the true number of infected persons and the geographic spread of the virus. While the situation meets the criteria for a global health emergency, the agency clarified that it does not constitute a pandemic emergency. The virus has spread beyond DR Congo’s borders, with Ugandan officials confirming the death of a 59-year-old man who tested positive.

The outbreak is concentrated in three health zones, including Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, and the gold-mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara. The Africa CDC expressed concern over the high risk of further spread due to the urban settings of these areas and ongoing mining activities. Dr Jean Kaseya, executive director of the Africa CDC, noted that significant population movement between affected areas and neighbouring countries necessitates essential regional coordination.

To manage the crisis, the WHO has advised DR Congo and Uganda to establish emergency operation centres to monitor, trace, and implement infection-prevention measures. Specific treatment protocols require that confirmed cases be isolated and treated until two Bundibugyo virus-specific tests, conducted at least 48 hours apart, return negative results. Governments in bordering countries are urged to enhance surveillance and health reporting to mitigate the risk of cross-border transmission.

The WHO explicitly warned against closing borders or restricting travel and trade, stating that such measures are often driven by fear and lack a scientific basis. Countries outside the affected region should maintain open trade and travel channels while strengthening health screening. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, a disease first discovered in the region in 1976. The average fatality rate for the virus is around 50 per cent, with transmission occurring through direct contact with bodily fluids or broken skin.