W.H.O. Declares Global Health Emergency as Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo Builds

You have been warned. The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday declared the growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Uganda a global health emergency. More than 300 suspected cases have been reported and 88 deaths. The agency said the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern Ituri province does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency - but does not rule out a possible development, the BBC reports. The current strain of Ebola is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, the health agency said, for which there are no approved drugs or vaccines. Early symptoms include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash and bleeding, the BBC report said. A motorcycle taxi driver waits for customers in front of the entrance to the CBCA Virunga general hospital, in Goma, May 17, 2026. A first case of Ebola virus infection has been reported in Goma, a large city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with the WHO declaring an international health alert. (Jospin Mwisha/AFP via Getty Images) The WHO said there were now eight laboratory-confirmed cases of the virus, as well as other suspected cases and deaths in three health zones, including Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, and the mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara. A case of the virus has been confirmed in the capital Kinshasa, believed to be a patient returning from Ituri. Around 15,000 people have died from the virus in African countries over the past 50 years. The deadliest outbreak in the DRC occurred between 2018 and 2020, during which nearly 2,300 people died. Staff members at the CBCA Virunga hospital prepare rooms for possible suspected Ebola cases following official announcements in Goma, May 17, 2026. (Jospin Mwisha / AFP via Getty Images) Last year, 45 people died following an outbreak in a remote area. Ebola is highly contagious and can be contracted through bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen. The illness it causes is rare, but serious and often fatal, AP notes. The WHO emergency declaration aims to spur donor agencies and countries into action. By WHO standards, this shows that the event is serious, there is a risk of international spread, and it requires a coordinated international response, AP further describes. Follow Simon Kent on Twitter: Follow @SunSimonKent or by email to: skent@breitbart.com