Ebola Outbreak in Congo Now Threatens 10 Countries — Including Uganda

An Ebola outbreak that started quietly in a remote corner of the Democratic Republic of Congo has exploded into a fast-moving regional crisis — and the world is now scrambling to catch up.

Health workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo are scrambling to contain an Ebola outbreak suspected to have killed more than 200 people, with the virus now risking spreading across international borders. The WHO has registered more than 900 suspected cases and 220 suspected deaths — though the real numbers are likely much higher, since the outbreak went undetected for some time.

Here's the part that makes this scarier than a typical outbreak: this isn't the strain most people think of when they hear "Ebola." Lab tests confirmed it is the Bundibugyo virus, a variant that has been less prominent in Congo's past outbreaks. There is currently no FDA-licensed or authorized vaccine to protect against Bundibugyo virus infection. The Ebola vaccine licensed in the United States is only effective against a different species and is not expected to protect against this strain. So unlike past outbreaks where doctors had tools to fight back, this one is different — there's no approved shot to give.

The Congolese government first declared an outbreak on May 15. Since then, confirmed and suspected cases have popped up across an area of Congo larger than the state of Florida. Neighboring Uganda has registered seven confirmed Ebola cases as of Monday, and the WHO raised its risk level for the disease to "very high" on Friday.

The virus crossed into Uganda the way these things often do — through regular human movement. Uganda shares a land border with Ituri, the epicenter of the outbreak, and is now trying to contain its own smaller Ebola outbreak after two infected Congolese travelers entered the country. The economy of eastern Congo is inextricably linked with those of neighboring states like Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, and many of the region's major cities lie on the edge of national borders — which means stopping the virus at any one checkpoint is incredibly hard.

On the ground, health workers are dealing with more than just the virus itself. Angry residents have attacked health clinics or treatment centers in Mongbwalu and Rwampara just twice in the last week, in some cases setting fire to medical tents. Confirmed cases have also been recorded in North Kivu and South Kivu — large areas governed by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels — which further complicates the response.

For Americans specifically: on May 17, an American who was exposed while caring for patients in DRC tested positive for Ebola Bundibugyo disease and was transported to Germany for treatment. On May 18, the CDC and DHS announced enhanced travel screening, entry restrictions, and public health measures to prevent Ebola from entering the United States. The risk of spread to the United States is considered low at this time. But "low risk" doesn't mean "no action needed" — the situation is moving fast.

The WHO has declared the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. The WHO said the outbreak fell short of the criteria for a "pandemic emergency," like COVID-19, and advised against closing international borders. That's an important distinction — this is serious, but it's not a repeat of 2020.