WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda a Global Health Emergency; No Cases in India

On 17 May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) — the highest level of global health alert. The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a less common strain that has caused fewer outbreaks in the past. Importantly, there is no confirmed licensed vaccine specifically proven against this strain, and existing vaccines and therapies that work well against the common Zaire strain have not yet been tested against Bundibugyo.

Ebola is a contagious disease that spreads from person to person through contact with body fluids and contaminated surfaces, and it can have a high fatality rate. WHO has said mortality can range between 25 per cent and 50 per cent depending on the strain, access to medical care and speed of treatment. The outbreak was officially declared by Congolese authorities in mid-May, with the first cases reported in DRC's Ituri province. Uganda, which shares a border with the DRC, has also reported cases. WHO acted unusually quickly, issuing the emergency declaration without waiting for the usual emergency committee, given the uncertainties around the strain.

The response is being hampered by ongoing conflict and displacement in eastern DRC. There have been attacks on medical facilities, with patients fleeing treatment centres, raising fears that the virus could spread undetected in communities with weak health systems. WHO has stressed the importance of patient and contact tracing, intensive support for patients, safe and dignified burials, vaccination where it works, and public awareness. The episode has also drawn attention to a wider problem: vaccines for less common strains and for neglected tropical diseases are often under-developed because the funding and commercial incentives to develop them are limited.

In India, the Union Health Minister reviewed the country's preparedness and surveillance systems and directed authorities to keep screening, testing and monitoring fully operational. The government confirmed that no case of Ebola Virus Disease has been reported in India so far. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued standard operating procedures for health preparedness, and aviation authorities flagged that countries bordering the DRC and Uganda are at higher risk of transmission.