The decision, announced by WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus on Sunday, follows reports of both confirmed and suspected infections linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
Although the situation is serious, it does not currently meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency under the WHO’s international health regulations.
As of 16 May, health authorities had recorded eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths in Ituri province in eastern DRC.
Cases have also been confirmed in the capital Kinshasa and across the border in Uganda, where two infected people traveled from the DRC and were admitted to intensive care.
The WHO warned that the outbreak is likely to be larger than currently recognized, pointing to clusters of unexplained deaths, a high positivity rate among tested samples and limited understanding of transmission patterns. At least four deaths among healthcare workers have also raised concerns about infection prevention measures in healthcare facilities.
The agency stressed that the outbreak poses a risk to neighboring countries due to high population mobility, trade links and ongoing humanitarian challenges in affected regions.
No international travel restrictions are necessary
Despite the risks, the WHO does not recommend restrictions on international travel or trade. Instead, it called on countries to strengthen monitoring, preparedness and community engagement, while ensuring accurate public information.
Authorities in the DRC and Uganda have been advised to activate emergency response mechanisms, improve contact tracing and laboratory testing, improve infection prevention and scale up treatment capacity.
Community engagement, including working with local and religious leaders, is also considered essential to controlling the outbreak.
The WHO highlighted that there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for the Bundibugyo strain, underscoring the importance of accelerating research and clinical trials.
An emergency committee will be convened to make further recommendations as global health authorities step up efforts to contain the outbreak and prevent a wider spread.
