WHO warns Ebola risk ‘very high’ as suspected cases hit 750

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised the risk of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola spreading across the Democratic Republic of Congo to “very high” at the national level and high at the regional level for the country, with low global risk.

WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, said this during an online media briefing on outbreaks of Ebola and hantavirus on Friday, May 22, 2026.

Ghebreyesus said there were 82 confirmed cases and seven deaths, adding that nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths suggested the outbreak was larger.

According to him, the outbreak can increase rapidly with no approved vaccine or treatment available, though health officials are doing all to contain the virus and prevent wider regional spread.

Ghebreyesus said: “This outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo virus, not Zaire.

“There are no approved vaccines or therapeutics for Bundibugyo, and only two previous outbreaks have occurred in Uganda in 2007 and DR Congo in 2012.

UN agencies raise Ebola response in DR Congo

“Uganda’s situation is stable with two confirmed cases linked to DR Congo travel and one death.

“Rapid contact tracing and canceled public events seem to have contained spread.

“Two American nationals are involved – one transferred to Germany for care, another high-risk contact moved to the Czech Republic.”

The WHO boss added that DR Congo and Uganda were leading the response with WHO and other partners.

Ghebreyesus disclosed that WHO deployed 22 international staff and released $3.9 million from its emergency fund.