The World Health Organization has declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a “public health emergency of international concern,” warning that the crisis could be far larger than current figures suggest.
Health officials said the outbreak, linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has already caused dozens of deaths in eastern Congo’s Ituri province, with 80 suspected deaths, eight laboratory-confirmed infections, and more than 240 suspected cases reported.
Uganda has also confirmed cases in the capital, Kampala, including one fatality involving travelers arriving from the DRC.
According to WHO, neighboring countries face a high risk of further transmission due to cross-border movement, although the organization stressed that the situation does not yet meet the threshold for a pandemic declaration.
DRC Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba warned that the Bundibugyo strain currently has no approved vaccine or targeted treatment and carries a fatality rate that can reach 50 percent, dw.com reports.
Médecins Sans Frontières described the speed of the outbreak’s spread as “extremely concerning” and said it is preparing a large-scale emergency response.
WHO urged countries to strengthen border screening and emergency preparedness measures while cautioning against travel bans or border closures, warning such restrictions could encourage unmonitored crossings and worsen the crisis.
