The declaration, announced in Geneva on May 17, 2026, by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirms that the outbreak meets the criteria of a global health emergency under the International Health Regulations (2005), though it does not qualify as a pandemic emergency.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) over an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus, following its rapid spread across parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
The declaration, announced in Geneva on May 17, 2026, by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirms that the outbreak meets the criteria of a global health emergency under the International Health Regulations (2005), though it does not qualify as a pandemic emergency.
Pursuant to the IHR framework, the Director-General stated that, “the Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), but does not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency.”
WHO said the decision followed consultations with affected member states and a review of scientific evidence, epidemiological data, and the risk of international spread.
