The World Health Organization has declared the latest Ebola outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” after 336 suspected cases and 88 suspected deaths were reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
Africa CDC Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya said he is in “panic mode” as health authorities struggle without approved vaccines or medicines for the current strain.
The outbreak is centered in eastern Congo’s Ituri province, while Uganda confirmed imported cases in Kampala linked to travelers from the DRC. Health officials warn active community transmission could increase the risk of spread into neighboring countries including South Sudan.
The WHO says the outbreak does not currently meet the threshold for a pandemic like COVID-19 and has not recommended border closures, but emergency screening and contact tracing operations have intensified.