WHO declares Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda a global health emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a global public health emergency. As of Saturday, May 16, 2026, a total of 246 suspected cases have been identified. In the DRC, the outbreak is primarily located within the Ituri province, where health officials have tracked infections across at least three distinct health zones, including Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongbwalu.^[1][2][3]

Data indicates that the DRC accounts for the vast majority of the crisis, with all but two of the suspected cases occurring within its borders. Those remaining two cases were reported in neighboring Uganda. To date, the outbreak has resulted in approximately 80 deaths. Despite the emergency declaration, the WHO emphasized that the situation has not reached the level of a pandemic emergency, though the global health designation aims to coordinate an international response to contain the spread.^[2][3]