WHO warns Ebola outbreak risk now 'very high' in DR Congo
Key takeaways
- The World Health Organization has raised the risk of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola spreading across the Democratic Republic of Congo to “very high,” warning the outbreak could accelerate rapidly.
- By: FRANCE 24 Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks during a press conference at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, May 22, 2026.
- The strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment, was declared an emergency of international concern by the WHO on Sunday.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The World Health Organization has raised the risk of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola spreading across the Democratic Republic of Congo to “very high,” warning the outbreak could accelerate rapidly. With no approved vaccine or treatment available, health officials are racing to contain the virus and prevent wider regional spread.
By: FRANCE 24 Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks during a press conference at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, May 22, 2026. © Martial Trezzini, Keystone via AP The World Health Organization has raised the risk of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola turning into a national outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo to "very high".
The strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment, was declared an emergency of international concern by the WHO on Sunday.