WHO declares Ebola a global emergency as DRC outbreak spreads to Uganda and Kinshasa, no vaccine for this strain.
The World Health Organization declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a Public Health Emergency of International Concern but said the outbreak does not meet pandemic criteria and warned of a potential wider regional spread. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease, and has seen around 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths reported in eastern Ituri province, with eight laboratory-confirmed cases and additional infections in Bunia, Mongwalu and Rwampara, as well as a confirmed case in Kinshasa related to travel from the affected area. The virus has also been found in neighbouring Uganda, where one fatal case was confirmed, and another case has been reported in Goma, an area controlled by rebels M23. Insecurity, population movement, zones of urban transmission and limited health infrastructure increase the risk of further spread across borders, the WHO warned, prompting neighbouring countries including Rwanda to strengthen surveillance and border screening. The agency said there are no vaccines or treatments approved for the Bundibugyo strain, and called for rapid isolation of cases, increased monitoring and coordinated regional response efforts.
