WHO Members Delay Pandemic Deal for 3rd Year as Ebola Death Toll Tops 60
Updated
Updated · POLITICO Europe · Jun 8
WHO Members Delay Pandemic Deal for 3rd Year as Ebola Death Toll Tops 60
1 articles · Updated · POLITICO Europe · Jun 8
Summary
WHO members missed a May deadline in Geneva to seal a pandemic accord, postponing the deal for a third straight year after failing to agree on sharing pathogen samples, data and vaccines.
An open letter published Monday said that deadlock is leaving the world exposed, arguing faster agreement could have helped avert three major post-Covid outbreaks — mpox, hantavirus and Ebola.
At least 60 people have died in Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, which former leaders, academics and health experts called another preventable disaster.
The warning casts the stalled treaty as a test of whether countries can settle access and equity disputes before the next cross-border health emergency.
As pandemic talks fail, is the fight over vaccine profits making the world more vulnerable to the next outbreak?
With no approved vaccine for the deadly Ebola strain, what is the world’s plan B to stop its spread?
2026 DRC Ebola Crisis Surpasses 1,000 Cases: Bundibugyo Strain, Vaccine Gaps, and the Urgent Need for a Global Pandemic Treaty
Overview
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing its 17th Ebola outbreak, officially declared in May 2026 after initial alerts in Ituri province. This crisis is driven by the Bundibugyo strain, first identified in Uganda, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. Although two vaccine candidates are under development, they are not yet ready for use. The lack of effective medical tools, combined with ongoing conflict and mass displacement, makes controlling the outbreak extremely challenging. These factors highlight urgent gaps in global health preparedness and the need for coordinated international action.