Congo Bans Gatherings Over 50 as WHO Lifts Ebola Risk to Very High
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · May 22
Congo Bans Gatherings Over 50 as WHO Lifts Ebola Risk to Very High
10 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · May 22
Congo on Friday suspended funeral wakes and gatherings of more than 50 people in Ituri Province, tightening controls as officials try to slow a fast-moving Ebola outbreak.
WHO raised the national risk level to “very high” from “high,” with 82 confirmed cases and seven confirmed deaths, while warning the true outbreak is likely far larger than reported.
750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths have been logged, but contact tracing and treatment are lagging in conflict-hit areas where nearly 1 million people are displaced and some clinics lack basic protective gear.
The outbreak has also reached North Kivu and South Kivu, including M23-held cities, where Kinshasa says there is no coordination with rebels despite the spread into their territory.
$60 million in U.N. emergency funding and $23 million pledged by the U.S. are being rushed in, but WHO and aid groups say the window to contain the Bundibugyo strain is narrowing.
With rebels and government not talking, who is stopping Ebola's deadly spread?
Did new US 'aid for minerals' deals weaken Congo's defenses against Ebola?
2026 Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak: Rising Deaths, Cross-Border Threats, and the Global Health Response
Overview
As of May 22, 2026, the World Health Organization has declared the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola a serious situation, though it does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency under international regulations. The outbreak’s scale is a major concern, with over 130 suspected deaths and uncertainty about its final size. While experts do not expect tens of thousands of infections, the situation remains unpredictable. The determination follows specific WHO guidelines, and the evolving crisis highlights the need for ongoing vigilance and response as the full impact is still unfolding.