# WHO Declares Bundibugyo Ebola a Global Health Emergency as DRC Outbreak Hits 867 Cases and 204 Deaths, 10 African Nations at Risk

*2026-05-24 22:01 UTC · Science · 1 min read*

> WHO declared the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda a global health emergency, with 867 suspected cases, 204 deaths and 10 African nations at risk.

The World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern on May 17. Congolese figures released this week count 867 suspected cases and 204 deaths in Ituri Province since the outbreak was confirmed on May 15. Five linked cases have reached Uganda, including three new infections in Kampala confirmed on May 23.

The outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo virus, a strain with a fatality rate of up to 50% and no approved vaccine or treatment. Africa CDC chief Jean Kaseya named 10 countries at risk: Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia. Uganda suspended public transport to the DRC on May 22.

The response is hampered by armed conflict, misinformation and a shortage of test kits configured for this strain. A treatment center in Mongbwalu was set on fire, letting 18 suspected cases flee into the community. WHO rates the risk as very high nationally, high regionally and low globally.

## Sources

- [who.int](https://www.who.int/news/item/17-05-2026-epidemic-of-ebola-disease-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-and-uganda-determined-a-public-health-emergency-of-international-concern)
- [aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/23/uganda-confirms-three-new-ebola-cases-bringing-total-to-five)
- [npr.org](https://www.npr.org/2026/05/24/nx-s1-5833095/drc-ebola-africa)

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TechTools News · https://techtools.cz/tools/news/article/1707-who-declares-bundibugyo-ebola-a-global-health-emergency-as-drc-outbreak-hits
Česká verze: https://techtools.cz/tools/news/clanek/1780-who-vyhlasila-ebolu-typu-bundibugyo-globalni-zdravotni-nouzi-epidemie-v-kongu