GENEVA, May 17, 2026 (WAFA) – The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday declared a public health emergency of international concern following an outbreak of an Ebola strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has killed 88 people, amid warnings over the absence of a vaccine or specific treatment for the strain.

According to the latest update issued by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 336 suspected cases have been recorded in the current outbreak.

The WHO said the outbreak is linked to the “Bundibugyo” strain of the Ebola virus, for which no approved vaccine is currently available.

It warned that the actual number of infections and the extent of the virus spread remain unclear, noting that cases detected in more than one country and rising positive test results suggest the outbreak may be wider than currently reported, with a high risk of further local and regional transmission.

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) said it is preparing a large-scale response, describing the rapid spread of the virus as very concerning.

The Minister of Public Health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Samuel Roger Kamba, confirmed that the “Bundibugyo” strain has no vaccine or specific treatment.

Health officials said the outbreak has been detected in Ituri province in northeastern DR Congo, near the borders with Uganda and South Sudan, while Ugandan authorities reported one death linked to the same strain.

This is the 17th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the virus was first identified in the country, with WHO estimates indicating mortality rates have ranged between 25% and 90% over the past decades, depending on the strain and healthcare conditions.

T.R.