The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a global health emergency following a rapid rise in infections and deaths across multiple regions.
The outbreak, first detected in northeastern Congo’s Ituri Province, has now spread to capital cities including Kinshasa and Kampala. Health authorities reported at least 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths in Ituri, although only a fraction have been laboratory confirmed.
The WHO confirmed that several cases were identified in Uganda within 24 hours, including a fatal infection in Kampala. Officials warned that the true scale of the outbreak may be significantly larger than reported due to ongoing surveillance challenges and population movement across borders.
The agency noted that no licensed vaccines or treatments exist for the Ebola strain involved, increasing concerns over containment. Global health experts have urged swift international coordination to prevent further spread.