Ebola Outbreak Declared Emergency in DRC and Uganda
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Uganda an emergency of international concern.
Health officials say the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, has already killed 88 people, with at least 336 suspected cases reported. The strain, first identified in 2007, has no vaccine or specific treatment. Congo’s Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba warned that the fatality rate can reach 50 percent, urging early treatment to save lives.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control confirmed the figures on Saturday, while Ugandan authorities reported the death of a Congolese national across the border. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) described the rapid spread as “extremely concerning” and said it was preparing a large scale response.
WHO officials stressed that the true scale of the outbreak is not yet clear, warning that countries sharing land borders with Congo are at high risk. The organisation advised governments to activate emergency mechanisms and strengthen border screenings.
The outbreak was confirmed in Ituri province, which borders Uganda and South Sudan. High mobility in the region, driven by mining and trade, is increasing the risk of wider transmission.
Symptoms of Ebola include fever, vomiting, and haemorrhaging. The virus, believed to originate in bats, spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids and can cause severe bleeding and organ failure. The incubation period can last up to 21 days.
Trish Newport, MSF’s Emergency Programme Manager, said the number of cases and deaths in such a short time, combined with cross border spread, is alarming. WHO added that the high positivity rate of initial samples points to a potentially larger outbreak than currently detected.
This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC. Vaccines are only available for the Zaire strain, which has a higher fatality rate of 60 to 90 percent. The Bundibugyo strain, however, remains without a vaccine, leaving health officials racing to contain the spread.
Regional leaders and health experts are calling for stronger collaboration between Congo, Uganda, and neighbouring countries to coordinate surveillance, share resources, and ensure rapid response teams are deployed. They warn that without joint action, the outbreak could spread further across East and Central Africa, threatening millions of lives and straining already fragile health systems.
