Ebola cases nearly double in DR Congo; WHO and MSF warn of alarming spread

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has characterized the rapidly escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as "deeply alarming" during a recent visit to the nation's eastern Ituri province, the epicenter of the crisis. This particular outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment, is the third largest on record and is significantly outpacing international response efforts. The WHO has since declared it a public health emergency of international concern, with over a thousand suspected cases and hundreds of deaths reported.

In an effort to manage the potential spread, Kenya had approved a request from the United States to establish a 50-bed Ebola quarantine facility at an air force base in Laikipia, intended for Americans exposed to the virus. This facility was scheduled to commence operations on May 29, 2026. However, a Kenyan High Court subsequently issued a temporary injunction, halting the implementation of the US-backed quarantine center following local criticism and a legal challenge.