World Health Organization is holding an emergency session as the Bundibugyo virus spreads through the DRC and Uganda.
Officials are tracking hundreds of suspected cases and more than 100 deaths from a virus that still has no approved vaccine. Some health workers are warning the outbreak is getting harder to contain after major funding cuts reduced support on the ground.
Cities like Kampala and Kinshasa are now a growing concern because of how many people move through them every day.
The head of the World Health Organization said Friday that the Ebola outbreak in Congo is “spreading rapidly” and now poses a “very high” risk at the national level. https://t.co/v7eW7Z33Qw
— News 4 Buffalo (@news4buffalo) May 22, 2026
WHO has upgraded the Ebola risk level in Congo from 'high' to 'very high' pic.twitter.com/4xOEMSdYiH
— BNO News (@BNOFeed) May 22, 2026
Bundibugyo Outbreak Status (As of May 21, 2026)
| Metric | Current Data |
| Suspected Cases | 575 |
| Confirmed Cases | 51 (DRC) |
| Suspected Deaths | 148 |
| Outbreak Status | PHEIC (Declared May 17, 2026) |
Source: CDC
Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, Democratic Republic of the Congo & Uganda
The Bundibugyo virus challenge: why is this Ebola disease outbreak different?
Congo Ebola outbreak 'spreading rapidly', WHO chief sayshttps://t.co/U1KLlUb5wB
— ITV News (@itvnews) May 22, 2026
Fast-spreading Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo is putting pressure on health workers racing to contain transmission as cases rise & vaccines remain months away.@WHO is supporting the response alongside local authorities & communities. https://t.co/jbT7tRgBJ7
— United Nations (@UN) May 19, 2026