The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the epidemic of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The declaration was made by the WHO Director-General under Article 12 of the International Health Regulations (2005).
As of the latest reports, the outbreak has resulted in a number of confirmed cases and deaths in both countries. The Bundibugyo virus is one of the six species of Ebolavirus and has a lower fatality rate compared to the Zaire ebolavirus, but still poses a significant threat to public health.
WHO has deployed teams to support national health authorities in surveillance, contact tracing, and infection prevention and control measures. Cross-border coordination between DRC and Uganda is being strengthened to contain the spread of the virus.
The declaration of a PHEIC aims to mobilize international resources and accelerate research into vaccines and treatments. No specific vaccine or treatment is currently approved for the Bundibugyo virus, but existing Ebola vaccines and therapeutics are being evaluated for efficacy.
