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Ebola in Africa: Why it's a constant threat
Key takeaways
- It spreads internationally, such as in the May 2026 outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
- But the WHO said the outbreak did "not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency."
- This comes just after the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius and — perhaps poignantly — as the WHO meets for its 79th General Assembly (May 18-23, 2026).
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Ebola is highly contagious and deadly. It spreads internationally, such as in the May 2026 outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. But that doesn't automatically make it a pandemic.
https://p.dw.com/p/4q6p1Ebola can be contagious even after death Image: Jerome Delay/AP/picture alliance Advertisement The World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern on May 17, 2026, following reports of an outbreak of Ebola, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
But the WHO said the outbreak did "not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency."
Article preview — originally published by DW English. Full story at the source.
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