The World Health Organization has declared the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola a public health emergency of international concern, as suspected deaths rise to 220 and cases spread across borders into Uganda.
WHO Warns of Escalating Crisis
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated on Monday, May 25: 'We are urgently scaling up operations, but at the moment the epidemic is outpacing us.' He noted that delays in detecting cases mean responders are playing catch-up. Surveillance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has identified over 900 suspected cases, with the epicenter in Ituri province. The outbreak has spread up to 200 kilometers from ground zero and into Uganda.
Uganda Confirms More Cases
Uganda's Ministry of Health reported two additional confirmed Ebola cases on Monday, bringing the total to seven. Both new patients are health workers at a private facility in Kampala. Authorities remain on high alert as the virus continues beyond DRC borders.
Violence Against Health Facilities
The outbreak is compounded by unrest. On Sunday evening, armed men stormed Mongbwalu General Hospital in Ituri, forcing staff to evacuate patients amid gunfire. Medical director Richard Lokudu said attackers demanded the release of two bodies. This follows incidents where residents set fire to a Doctors Without Borders tent and a treatment center was burned down after families were denied access to a suspected Ebola victim's body.
Government Measures to Contain Spread
Congolese authorities have banned funeral wakes and gatherings of more than 50 people in northeastern DRC. Burials of suspected victims must be handled by trained teams, though these rules have sparked protests. Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids, causing severe bleeding and organ failure. No vaccine or treatment exists for the Bundibugyo strain, making containment critical.
Nigeria on Alert
The Federal Government of Nigeria assured citizens there is no confirmed Ebola case in the country, amid renewed outbreaks in DRC and Uganda. The Ministry of Health has stepped up surveillance and emergency preparedness through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Port Health Services, and WHO collaboration.
