The WHO declares an international health emergency in response to a new Ebola outbreak

The World Health Organization has declared a "public health emergency of international concern" following a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. This decision comes after the confirmation of several cases linked to the Bundibugyo strain, a particularly worrying variant for which there is currently no licensed vaccine or widely validated specific treatment.

According to the latest data released by the WHO and African health authorities, several confirmed cases have been detected in Ituri province, in eastern DRC, while infections have also been reported in Kampala, Uganda. Authorities are already reporting dozens of suspected deaths in the region, against a backdrop of high cross-border movement and weakened health systems.

A rare and particularly feared strain

The current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo virus, one of the rarest forms of Ebola. Unlike the Zaire strain, against which vaccines now exist, no officially approved vaccine is yet available for this variant. The WHO is particularly concerned about the difficulty of rapidly containing transmission chains in areas marked by insecurity and population displacement.

Symptoms of Ebola include high fever, extreme fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and, in severe cases, internal bleeding that can lead to multiple organ failure. According to the WHO, the average mortality rate of the virus remains close to 50%, with historical outbreaks sometimes exceeding 80%.

The WHO fears regional spread

The declaration of an international emergency aims primarily to accelerate global coordination, unlock funding, and strengthen health surveillance capacities at borders. The WHO specifically recommends the immediate activation of national emergency centers, enhanced contact tracing, and greater involvement of local communities to limit the spread of the virus.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) also convened an emergency meeting with several international partners, including the US, European, and Chinese CDCs. At this stage, however, the WHO is not recommending international travel restrictions, while urging states to strengthen health controls and hospital capacity in the face of the risk of regional spread of the epidemic.