The World Health Organization on Sunday declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a “public health emergency of international concern,” warning of risks to neighboring countries.
The outbreak which is rumoured to be caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, and while the WHO said it does not yet meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency, countries sharing land borders with the DRC are considered at high risk for further spread.
As of Sunday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 10 confirmed cases and 336 suspected cases, with more than 100 suspected deaths recorded. There is no approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain, raising fears about how effectively the outbreak can be contained.
Complicating the global health picture, the Ebola emergency is unfolding alongside a separate hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship in South America.
Public health authorities in Argentina are investigating cases associated with the vessel, raising difficult questions about international travel and delayed recognition of unusual illness.
Following the hantavirus outbreak, passengers and crew members from more than 20 countries on the affected cruise ship, MV Hondius, required coordinated monitoring, contact tracing, medical evacuation, and public health guidance across borders.
Public health professor and Ebola survivor Dr. Craig Spencer warned that this Ebola outbreak could become the fourth largest in history, describing the situation as “a really difficult outbreak to manage and respond to,” particularly given the violence and armed conflict in eastern Congo. The dual crises have intensified scrutiny of global preparedness infrastructure.
The WHO’s program budget for 2026–27 has been set at over $6.2 billion a 9 percent decrease from the prior year with health experts warning that funding cuts have “directly weakened disease surveillance efforts” and the ability to respond effectively to epidemics.
