WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the Emergency Committee on Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda – 19 May 2026

Countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda Source: World Health Organization Chair, Professor Lucille Blumberg, Members of the Emergency Committee, dear colleagues and friends, Thank you all for your commitment to this committee, at short notice. I would also like to thank the representatives of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda who are joining us today. Early on Sunday, I declared a public health emergency of international concern over an epidemic of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. This is the first time a Director-General has declared a PHEIC before convening an Emergency Committee. I did not do this lightly. I did it in accordance with Article 12 of the International Health Regulations, after consulting the Ministers of Health of both countries, and because in our view, the scale and speed of the epidemic demanded urgent action. So far, 30 cases have been confirmed in the DRC, from the northeastern province of Ituri. Uganda has also informed WHO of two confirmed cases in the capital Kampala, including one death, among two individuals who travelled from DRC. An American national has also been confirmed positive, and been transferred to Germany. There are several factors that warrant serious concern about the potential for further spread and further deaths. First, beyond the confirmed cases, there are more than 500 suspected cases and 130 suspected deaths. These numbers will change as field operations are scaling up, including surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing and clinical care. Second, cases have been reported in urban areas, including Kampala, the city of Goma in the DRC, and Bunia, which is a big city. Third, deaths have been reported among health workers, indicating healthcare-associated transmission. Fo...

Original source: Relief Web