WHO Declares Ebola Emergency as DRC Logs 513 Suspected Cases and 131 Deaths
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · May 19
WHO Declares Ebola Emergency as DRC Logs 513 Suspected Cases and 131 Deaths
11 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · May 19
At least 513 suspected Ebola cases and 131 suspected deaths have been recorded in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, prompting WHO to declare a public health emergency of international concern.
Tedros said the move reflected concern over the outbreak’s scale and speed, with cases reaching urban areas including Goma and spreading into Uganda, where two cases in Kampala include one death.
The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, detected only for the third time in Congo and Uganda and lacking approved vaccines or therapeutics, though WHO said existing diagnostics can identify it.
More than 40 WHO experts were deployed Sunday and 12 tons of supplies sent, with 6 more tons coming, as officials warned weak surveillance in the conflict-hit region may be accelerating spread.
The CDC has activated its emergency operations response, said risk to the U.S. public remains low, and is preparing travel-entry restrictions as infected American doctor Peter Stafford was evacuated to Germany.
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Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak 2026: Uncertainty, Rapid Spread, and Global Emergency Response
Overview
The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, as of May 19, 2026, is marked by major uncertainties, including limited knowledge about the true number of cases, how far the virus has spread, and how infections are connected. These gaps make it hard to judge the outbreak’s real scale and impact, which alarms public health experts. Because of this, effective contact tracing and targeted containment are difficult, increasing the risk of further spread. The situation highlights an urgent need for better surveillance and thorough investigation to understand the outbreak and guide stronger public health actions.