World Health Organization declares Ebola outbreak in Congo a global health emergency

Summary: The World Health Organization (WHO) just declared a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a global health emergency. This rare version of the virus, called the Bundibugyo strain, spreads through bodily fluids and causes fever, pain, and bleeding. Right now, there is no approved vaccine or treatment, and standard rapid tests are missing the infections.

Health experts, like Dr. Craig Spencer—who survived Ebola in 2014 and now teaches at Brown University—warn that the virus has likely been spreading for weeks before anyone noticed. So far, there are over 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths. While the risk to Americans is low, officials are working fast to stop it from spreading further, even as infected people have traveled across borders using public transportation.

For more details, see rssapp-news-google-com-topics-caaqiqgkihtdqkftrgdvsuwymhznr3qwtlrfu0ftvnvlqufqaq at npr.org/2026/05/16/g-s1-122494/new-ebola-outbreak-drc-who-global-emergency (opens in new tab)