WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak in Congo and Uganda a Global Health Emergency

The World Health Organization has declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of Central and East Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), signaling growing fears over the spread and scale of the deadly virus.

The announcement came late Saturday, just a day after the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention first raised alarm over a new outbreak in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Health authorities have confirmed that Ebola cases have now reached major urban centers, including Kinshasa and Kampala. The spread to densely populated cities has heightened concerns among global health experts, as such environments can accelerate transmission.

In Ituri Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, officials have reported 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths linked to the virus. However, only eight cases have been laboratory-confirmed so far, raising concerns about underreporting and limited testing capacity.

The WHO noted that eight out of 13 samples collected from affected areas tested positive for Ebola, suggesting that the outbreak may be more widespread than currently documented.

Health officials warn that the true number of infections could be significantly higher due to gaps in surveillance and diagnostic limitations. In its statement, the WHO highlighted “significant uncertainties” regarding both the geographic spread and the total number of infected individuals.

The declaration of a global health emergency is intended to mobilize international resources, strengthen cross-border response efforts, and prevent further escalation of the outbreak.

Ebola, a highly infectious and often fatal disease, has caused multiple outbreaks in Africa over the past decades. The latest development raises fresh concerns about preparedness, especially in urban centers and neighboring countries.

Public health experts stress the importance of rapid containment measures, including contact tracing, isolation of suspected cases, and increased testing capacity, to prevent a wider regional or global crisis.