WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak In DRC, Uganda A Global Health Emergency

photo credit: Arise News

The World Health Organization has declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a global health emergency after confirmed cases spread beyond the initial outbreak zone and reached both countries’ capitals.

Health authorities confirmed infections in Kinshasa and Kampala, raising fears that the virus may be spreading more widely than current data shows. The outbreak was initially detected in Ituri Province in north-eastern Congo.

According to health officials, 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths linked to the virus have been recorded so far, although only eight infections have been confirmed through laboratory testing.

The WHO said available figures may not reflect the true scale of the outbreak, noting that eight out of 13 samples collected from different locations tested positive for Ebola.

In a statement, the organisation warned that there are still “significant uncertainties” surrounding the number of infections and the geographical spread of the disease.

The agency described the outbreak as a “public health emergency of international concern,” signalling the highest level of global health alert under international regulations.

Authorities in both countries are continuing surveillance, testing and emergency response efforts as they work to contain the spread of the virus and prevent further cross-border transmission.