The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) after a sharp rise in suspected cases and deaths. WHO clarified that the situation is serious but not at the level of a global pandemic like COVID-19.
The outbreak is mainly concentrated in the Ituri Province of Congo, where hundreds of suspected infections and dozens of deaths have been reported. Uganda has also confirmed Ebola cases linked to travelers arriving from Congo, raising fears of regional spread.
Ebola is a highly dangerous viral disease that causes severe haemorrhagic fever. The virus spreads through direct contact with infected blood, saliva, sweat, vomit, semen, or contaminated surfaces. Unlike COVID-19, Ebola does not spread through the air.
Symptoms usually appear between 2 and 21 days after infection and include high fever, weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and internal bleeding in severe cases. The disease has an average fatality rate of around 50 percent.
The current outbreak is linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which vaccine and treatment effectiveness remain limited. WHO has recommended supportive care along with monoclonal antibody treatments for certain Ebola strains, though health agencies remain concerned about the evolving situation.
Ebola was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in present-day Congo. The deadliest outbreak occurred in West Africa between 2014 and 2016, killing more than 11,000 people.
Global health authorities are now closely monitoring the outbreak while urging stronger surveillance, testing, and international cooperation to prevent further spread.
