The World Health Organization (WHO) has determined that the Ebola disease outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), while not meeting the criteria for a pandemic emergency.
The declaration follows rising cases across Ituri Province, alongside confirmed infections in Uganda’s Kampala and Kinshasa, with evidence of cross-border transmission linked to travel from affected regions.
WHO Director-General emphasised coordination with DRC and Ugandan authorities, citing significant epidemiological uncertainty, community transmission risks, and healthcare-associated infections amid limited therapeutics and vaccine availability.
Key developments:
- 8 confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 suspected deaths reported in DRC
- Cross-border cases confirmed in Uganda and Kinshasa
- Evidence of active community transmission and healthcare-associated spread
- Emergency response scaled up across surveillance, IPC, and border health systems
The WHO has convened an Emergency Committee to guide further international response measures.
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