By Elsie Kamsiyochi
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the Ebola outbreak spreading across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) after dozens of suspected deaths raised fears of wider regional transmission.
While the agency emphasized that the outbreak does not currently meet the threshold for a pandemic, health officials warned that the situation is serious and could worsen if swift containment measures are not maintained.
According to WHO data released on Sunday, the outbreak has already resulted in 80 suspected deaths, with eight laboratory-confirmed infections and at least 246 suspected cases reported across multiple health zones in the eastern DRC province of Ituri. The affected regions include Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongbwalu, areas already facing healthcare challenges due to conflict and limited medical resources.
The outbreak has been linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a less common but dangerous form of the disease that presents unique challenges for health authorities. Unlike the more frequently encountered Ebola-Zaire strain, which has approved vaccines and treatments available, there are currently no approved vaccines or virus-specific treatments for Bundibugyo Ebola, making this outbreak particularly concerning for global health officials.
Health experts fear the true scale of infections may be much larger than current figures suggest. WHO officials said the outbreak could be spreading more widely than reported due to the high positivity rate among tested samples and the increasing number of suspected infections emerging in local communities. The DRC’s Ministry of Health had already warned on Friday that fatalities linked to the outbreak were climbing rapidly.
Concerns intensified after one Ebola case was reportedly confirmed in Goma, a major eastern Congolese city near the border with Rwanda and a key transportation hub. The city’s large population and extensive travel links have historically made health officials cautious about the risk of disease transmission.
In neighboring Uganda, authorities have also begun reporting cases linked to cross-border movement. WHO confirmed that two laboratory-confirmed Ebola cases were detected in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, including one death. Officials said both individuals had recently traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo, providing evidence that international spread has already begun.
Despite growing fears, WHO stressed that the outbreak should not trigger panic or unnecessary restrictions. The agency advised governments not to shut borders or impose travel and trade bans, warning that such measures often drive movement underground through informal crossings, making infections harder to monitor and control.
Instead, WHO urged countries neighboring the DRC to activate emergency health systems, strengthen cross-border screenings, increase surveillance on major transport routes, and rapidly isolate confirmed cases. Officials also recommended intensive monitoring of people exposed to the virus, with daily health checks lasting 21 days, the standard Ebola incubation period.
The WHO further advised that confirmed Ebola patients and close contacts should avoid international travel unless part of a medically supervised evacuation. Within affected countries, movement restrictions for exposed individuals are expected to play an important role in preventing further spread.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is no stranger to Ebola outbreaks. The virus was first identified there in 1976, and this latest outbreak marks the 17th recorded Ebola emergency in the country. However, experts say the Bundibugyo strain presents a more difficult challenge due to the absence of specialized medical countermeasures.
Adding to concerns, the DRC’s vast tropical forests are considered a natural reservoir for Ebola viruses, increasing the possibility of recurring outbreaks through animal-to-human transmission. Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, contaminated materials, or deceased infected persons, and symptoms often include high fever, body pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and internal bleeding in severe cases.
Meanwhile, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is also weighing stronger regional action. Its Director-General, Jean Kaseya, said he has requested technical guidance on whether the outbreak should be elevated to a continental public health emergency, reflecting growing fears about regional security and healthcare preparedness.
Although WHO insists the outbreak is not currently at pandemic levels, health authorities warn that the coming weeks will be critical. Rapid testing, isolation, community awareness, and regional cooperation are expected to determine whether the outbreak can be contained — or if it spreads further across East and Central Africa.
Source Reuters
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