WHO says the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is high-risk locally and regionally but still low-risk globally, even as the response intensifies.
The World Health Organization says the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda poses a high risk at national and regional levels, but the risk of global spread remains low.
WHO has called for urgent action as the outbreak continues to develop across the two countries. The agency declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 16, 2026.
WHO said the outbreak involves Bundibugyo virus disease and has already reached Kampala, Uganda, through an imported case from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The organization also warned that population movement across the region increases the challenge of containing transmission.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the risk to the American public remains low and that it is supporting response efforts in both countries.
The situation is still evolving. Case and death counts may change as investigators and response teams continue to trace infections and assess whether transmission has spread further than currently confirmed.
Revision note
Initial automated publication.