WHO declares Ebola outbreak in Congo, Uganda a global health emergency

A man is carried from an ambulance as he arrives at Bunia General Referral Hospital following confirmation of an Ebola outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain in Bunia, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 16, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Victoire Mukenge

May ⁠17 (Reuters) - The ⁠World Health ‌Organisation on Sunday declared an ​Ebola outbreak ⁠caused by ⁠the Bundibugyo virus ⁠in ‌the ⁠Democratic Republic of Congo ​and ‌Uganda a ⁠public ​health emergency of ⁠international concern.

The WHO ​said the outbreak does not ⁠meet the criteria of pandemic ​emergency.

(Reporting ⁠by Disha ​Mishra ‌in Bengaluru; Editing ​by William Mallard)