Photos from Congo and Uganda as WHO declare health emergency over Ebola
A woman wearing a protective mask stands in the corridor of a hospital in Bunia, Congo, Sunday, May 17, 2026.
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Congo will open three treatment centers for the Ebola virus in the eastern Ituri province, and the World Health Organization is sending a team of experts to the country, following an outbreak that has killed nearly 120 people. An American doctor in Congo is among the newly confirmed cases of a rare type of Ebola virus with no approved vaccines or medicines, Congolese officials said Monday, as details emerged about the government’s delayed response to the outbreak. The Bundibugyo virus spread undetected for weeks. Experts criticize the delayed response and lack of resources. The U.S. CDC says the risk to Americans is low but urges caution for travelers in the region.
The World Health Organization director-general has expressed concern over the rapid spread of a rare type of Ebola in eastern Congo. Authorities have reported at least 134 suspected deaths and over 500 cases. The Bundibugyo virus has no approved treatments or vaccines. The outbreak has been declared a public health emergency requiring international response. The virus has spread to urban areas, raising fears of further spread and deaths. A WHO official on the ground says any vaccine approved for use would still take about two months to become available. The region was already facing a humanitarian crisis, complicating outbreak response efforts.
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