May 17, World (LNW): The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued its highest level of international health alert following a worsening Ebola outbreak affecting both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
Health officials confirmed that the outbreak, linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has prompted serious concern due to its rapid spread across multiple regions and the absence of approved vaccines or targeted treatments for this particular variant.
According to the UN health agency, dozens of fatalities and hundreds of suspected infections have already been recorded in the eastern province of Ituri in the DRC. Areas including Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu are among the hardest hit, with health teams struggling to contain the outbreak amid growing concerns that the true scale of infections may be far greater than official figures currently suggest.
Medical experts noted that laboratory testing has revealed a high positivity rate among early samples, indicating that undetected community transmission may already be taking place in several districts. Officials fear the outbreak could intensify further unless containment efforts are strengthened quickly.
The WHO also confirmed that cross-border transmission has now been documented. In Kampala, authorities identified two confirmed Ebola cases linked to travellers arriving from the DRC, including one fatality. Another confirmed infection was reported in Kinshasa after an individual travelled from the outbreak zone in Ituri province.
The organisation warned that neighbouring countries remain particularly vulnerable because of frequent movement across land borders, informal trade routes and densely populated transport corridors. Governments in the region have therefore been urged to increase health surveillance, strengthen screening at border checkpoints and prepare emergency response systems in case of additional outbreaks.
Despite the heightened concern, the WHO stopped short of recommending international travel bans or border closures, cautioning that such measures could drive travellers towards unofficial crossings where health monitoring is limited. Instead, the agency advised strict isolation of confirmed patients, daily observation of close contacts and temporary travel restrictions for individuals exposed to the virus for a period of 21 days.
Public health officials have described the situation as especially alarming because the Bundibugyo strain remains one of the least understood forms of Ebola, with fewer medical countermeasures available compared to more common Ebola variants previously seen in Africa.