WASHINGTON, DC – HEALTH officials are closely monitoring an Ebola outbreak affecting two countries in Africa, as the number of confirmed cases and deaths continues to rise and the virus spreads into urban centres.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced that the organisation has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), citing the growing risks associated with the spread of the virus.
According to Dr. Tedros, this is the first time a WHO Director-General has declared a PHEIC before formally convening an Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (IHR). He explained that the decision was made after consultations with the health ministers of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda and in light of the urgent need for international action.
However, he clarified that the situation has not been classified as a pandemic emergency, which is the highest alert level under the amended International Health Regulations.
Following the declaration, WHO convened an Emergency Committee, which later agreed that the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, but not a pandemic emergency.
WHO currently assesses the risk posed by the outbreak as high at both the national and regional levels, while maintaining that the global risk remains low.
So far, 51 confirmed cases have been recorded in the DRC, primarily in the northern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, including the cities of Bunia and Goma. However, WHO officials believe the true scale of the outbreak is likely much larger.
Uganda has also reported two confirmed cases in the capital, Kampala, including one death. The infected individuals had reportedly travelled from the DRC into Uganda.
Additionally, an American national working in the DRC has tested positive for the virus and has since been transferred to Germany for treatment.
WHO officials outlined several factors contributing to concern over the potential for wider transmission and additional fatalities. Beyond the confirmed infections, there are nearly 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths currently under investigation. Officials expect those numbers to increase, given that the virus had likely been circulating for some time before the outbreak was detected.
The outbreak has also expanded geographically, with infections now reported in multiple urban areas, increasing the risk of rapid transmission.
Health authorities are also concerned by reports of infections and deaths among healthcare workers, indicating that transmission is occurring within medical facilities.
Another major concern is the high level of population movement throughout the affected regions. The province of Ituri, in particular, continues to face significant insecurity and conflict, which has intensified since late 2025. Fighting over the past two months has reportedly displaced more than 100,000 people.
The region is also a major mining zone, resulting in frequent movement of workers and residents, which health experts warn could further accelerate the spread of the virus.
Compounding the challenge is the fact that the outbreak is being caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments.
Dr. Tedros said the combination of these factors made immediate international action necessary in order to prevent additional deaths and strengthen the global response to the outbreak.
