Global Ebola Alert Issued as WHO Declares Emergency; HPA Monitoring Developments 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), while stating it does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency.

In response, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said it is monitoring the situation with relevant stakeholders and will share further information with the media as updates become available.

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The WHO said the decision was based on rising confirmed and suspected cases, cross-border transmission, and the need for coordinated international response under the International Health Regulations (2005).

As of 16 May, authorities reported eight laboratory-confirmed cases and 246 suspected cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, along with 80 suspected deaths in Ituri Province. Additional confirmed cases have been identified in Kampala, Uganda, among individuals who had travelled from the DRC.

WHO described the outbreak as “extraordinary”, citing community clusters of deaths consistent with viral haemorrhagic fever symptoms, infections among healthcare workers, and gaps in infection prevention and control measures.

The organisation warned that the outbreak may be larger than currently detected due to high positivity rates in initial testing, increasing suspected case numbers, and uncertainty over epidemiological links.

It also highlighted risks linked to population movement, insecurity, humanitarian pressures, and cross-border travel, which could facilitate wider regional spread.

WHO noted that no approved vaccines or specific treatments are currently available for Bundibugyo virus disease, increasing the urgency of containment efforts.

The WHO said it will convene an Emergency Committee shortly to issue temporary recommendations for affected and neighbouring countries to strengthen surveillance and response measures.