The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. According to the WHO, while the outbreak fulfills the criteria for such an emergency, it does not meet the definition of a pandemic under the International Health Regulations.
As of May 16, 2026, the Ituri Province of the DRC reported eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 presumed deaths. Separately, two laboratory-confirmed cases were recorded in Kampala, Uganda, which showed no discernible link to one another. Furthermore, on May 16, a laboratory-confirmed case was reported in Kinshasa, DRC, involving an individual who had returned from the Ituri region.
The WHO noted that several factors suggest the outbreak could be significantly larger than currently reported. These factors include the high positivity rate of initially sampled specimens, the confirmation of cases both in Kampala and Kinshasa, an increasing trend in reported suspected cases presenting with specific symptoms, and death clusters throughout the entire Ituri Province. Compounding the risk of spread are factors such as persistent uncertainty, an ongoing humanitarian crisis, high population mobility, the urban or semi-urban nature of the current hotspots, and a vast network of informal healthcare facilities.
The WHO Director-General commended the leadership of the respective countries for taking the necessary steps to contain the outbreak, while also emphasizing the critical need for international cooperation. This collaboration is essential to accurately understand the full extent of the outbreak and to coordinate surveillance, prevention, and response measures. The uncertainty surrounding the actual number of infected individuals and the geographical spread remains a considerable risk. Moreover, there are currently no approved specific therapeutics or vaccines available for this particular viral type.